HISTORY  AND  REVIEW 


OF  THE 


COPPER,  IRON,  SILVER,  SLATE 


AND  OTHER 


Material  Interests 


OP  THE 


SOUTH  SHORE  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


A.  P.  SWINEFORD. 


MARQUETTE,   (L    S.)   MICH. 
THE  MINING  JOURNAL. 

1876. 


ENTERED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS,  IN  THE  YEAR  1876,  BY 

A.  P.  SWINEFORD, 
IN  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  LIBRARIAN  OF  CONGRESS,  AT  WASHINGTON. 


PEEFACE. 


THIS  volume  lias  been  compiled  for  the  triple  purpose  of  preserving 
the  history  of  the  Lake  Superior  region,  to  attract  attention  to  its 
unparalleled  mineral  resources,  and,  if  possible,  to  put  enough  money 
into  the  pocket  of  its  compiler  and  publisher  to  compensate  him  for 
what  might  otherwise  be  a  labor  of  love. 

In  this  connection  I  desire  to  return  my  sincere  thanks  to  Hon.  John 
H.  Forsier,  one  of  the  earliest  among  the  pioneers  of  the  copper  region, 
for  a  very  nearly  complete  history  of  the  discovery  and  development 
of  the  copper  interest,  and  at  the  same  time,  to  beg  his  pardon  for 
having  so  elaborated  his  valuable  paper  as  to  impair,  in  some  degree, 
the  style  and  harmony  of  his  composition. 

I  am  also  indebted  to  Jacob  Houghton,  A.  R.  Harlow,  and  Hon. 
Peter  White,  for  much  valuable  information,  acide  from  the  former's 
very  interesting  paper  on  the  "Ancient  Copper  Miners  of  Lake 
Superior."  The  geology  of  the  Iron  District,  by  Chas.  E.  Wright, 
M.  E.,  though  brief  is  exhaustive,  and  written  in  words  that  are  within 
the  comprehension  of  others  than  scientists.  It  is  pronounced  the 
ablest  and  most  reliable  paper  upon  the  subject  that  has  ever  been 
written. 

For  himself,  the  author  claims  no  other  credit  than  that  which  may 
justly  be  accorded  for  having  made  the  best  use  lie  could  of  informa- 
tion derived  from  others — that  part  of  the  book  relating  to  copper, 
being,  so  far  as  he  is  concerned,  little  else  than  a  compilation. 

Marquette,  March,  1876.  A.  P.  S. 


M85848 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


EARLIEST   DISCOVERIES   AIsT>   RESEARCHES. 

The  Jesuit  Fathers  were  the  first  in  modern  times  to  inti- 
mate to  the  world  the  existence  of  native  copper  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Superior.  In  the  seventeenth  century — more 
than  two  hundred  years  ago — impelled  by  a  burning  zeal  for 
the  salvation  of  souls,  these  devoted  and  intelligent  French- 
men, cross  in  hand,  pushed  boldly  out  into  the  savage 
wilderness  of  the  great  Northwest.  These  men  were  some- 
thing more  than  mere  zealots;  they  were  good  geographers, 
topographers  and  naturalists;  they  were  apt  observers,  and 
possessed  the  skill  and  industry  necessary  to  render  their 
discoveries  of  value  to  mankind.  Among  other  things,  they 
carefully  noted,  as  they  navigated  the  great  lake  in  their 
frail  canoes,  copper  lying  on  the  shores  and  in  the  possession 
of  the  superstitious  savages;  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  these 
holy  Fathers  understood  much  about  geology,  or  whence  the 
float  copper  came.  The  Indians  seem  never  to  have  made  prac- 
tical use  of  this  valuable  metal,  but  regarded  the  copper  in  their 
possession  as  something  sacred.  At  a  very  late  day,  since 
mining  became  an  industry  on  the  lake,  the  same  super- 
stitious reverence  prevailed.  In  this  respect  they  were  far 
inferior  in  intelligence  to  that  pre-historic  race  known  as  the 
ancient  miners.  Of  the  works  of  this  unknown  people  more 
hereafter. 

The  first  published  account  of  the  existence  of  copper  and 
other  minerals  on  Lake  Superior,  is  to  be  found  in  "  LagardeV' 
book,  which  appeared  in  Paris  in  1636;  it  contained  many 
things  which  would  be  of  interest  to  the  general  reader  at 


MINERAL    RESOURCES 


this  time,  but  we  shall  have  to  be  content  with  a  few  brief 
quotations.  All  the  information  concerning  the  existence  of 
copper  and  other  minerals  on  Lake  Superior  given  by  this 
early  writer,  appears  to  have  been  obtained  from  the  Indians, 
and  it  would  seem  that  he  was  not  himself  well  versed  in 
mineralogy:  •'H^.-^ays;,  referring  to  the  south  shore  of  the 
lake:  ^  There  aie  -mines  of  copper  which  might  be  made 
\pitofitable  if  there  were\  inhabitants  and  workmen  who  would 
' labor  iraithfully,  That  would  be  done  if  colonies  were  estab- 
lished. *  *  *  About  eighty  or  one  hundred  leagues  from 
the  Hurons  there  is  a  mine  of  copper  from  which  Truchement 
Brusle  showed  me  an  ingot,  on  his  return  from  a  voyage 
to  the  neighboring  nation."  This  book,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered, was  published  thirty  years  before  the  advent  of  the 
Jesuit  Fathers,  Allouez,  Mesnard  and  Marquette,  and  the 
language  of  the  author  is  such  as  to  encourage  the  belief  that 
there  existed  at  the  time  to  which  he  refers  copper  mines 
that  were  actually  being  wrought  by  the  Indians,  or,  perhaps, 
by  a  last  remnant  of  the  "ancient  miners;"  otherwise  why 
should  he  have  used  the  word  "mines?"  Nor  could  he  have 
seen  an  ingot.  It  is  much  more  probable  that  his  "mines" 
were  undeveloped  lodes,  and  the  "ingot"  a  mere  boulder- — the 
ancient  miners  must  have  been  extinct  thousands  of  years 
before,  according  to  archaeologists.  "  It  is,"  says  he,  "  pre- 
tended, also,  that  near  Saguenay,  gold,  rubies,  and  other 
precious  stones  are  found.  I  am  assured  that,  in  the  country 
of  the  Souriquois  there  are  not  only  mines  of  copper,  but 
also  of  steel;  also  certain  blue  transparent  stones,  which  are 
as  valuable  as  turquoises."  He  also  says  that  "among  the 
rocks  they  found  stones  covered  with  diamonds  attached  to 
the  rocks — some  of  them  appearing  as  if  just  from  the  hands 
of  the  lapidary,  they  were  so  beautiful."  He  was  not  sure, 
however,  that  they  were  fine,  but  they  "were  very  handsome, 
and  would  write  upon  glass."  And:  "  it  seems  that  one  might 
find  mines  of  iron  and  many  other  minerals,  if  one  would 
take  the  trouble  of  searching,  and  go  to  some  expense. 
There  is  an  abundance  of  limestone  and  other  materials- 
required  for  building." 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


In  the  Relation  de  ce  qui  s'est  passe  dans  le  pays  des 
Hurons,  there  is  much  information  concerning  the  "Lac 
Superieur."  The  Eelacion  for  1659-'60  gave  an  account  of 
one  of  the  Jesuit  fathers  "  residing  in  the  lake  which  we  call 
Superieur."  "  It  is  enriched  on  all  its  borders  by  mines  of 
lead  almost  pure,  and  of  copper  all  refined  in  pieces  as  large 
as  the  fist,  and  great  rocks  which  have  whole  veins  of 
turquoises." 

In  a  small  duodecimo  volume  of  less  than  two  hundred 
pages,  published  in  Paris  in  1640,  by  Pierre  Boucher,  the  fol- 
lowing mention  of  Lake  Superior  is  made: 

"  There  are  mines  of  copper,  tin,  antimony  and  lead."  Can 
it  be  that  the  author  visited  the  tin  discovery  on  the  north 
shore,  afterwards  found  and  lost  again  by  Detroit  parties? 
"  In  Lake  Superior  there  is  a  great  island  which  is  fifty 
leagues  in  circuit,  in  which  there  is  a  very  beautiful  mine  of 
copper;  it  is  found  also  in  various  places  in  large  pieces  all 
refined."  Is  it  not  probable  that  the  "  beautiful  mine  of 
copper  "  referred  to  by  this  writer  was  the  ancient  mine  now 
being  re-opened  by  the  Minong  company  ?  It  is  barely  possi- 
ble that  the  exodus  of  the  ancient  miners  may  have  been  so 
recent  at  that  time  as  to  leave  fully  exposed  the  pure  masses 
that  are  now  being  taken  out  of  ancient  pits  by  Mr.  Davis. 
If  the  works  of  the  ancients  are  so  clearly  discernible  at  this 
late  day,  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  scene  of  their  mining 
operations,  may  at  that  date — two  hundred  and  fifty  years 
ago — have  presented  more  the  aspect  of  a  lately  developed 
mine  than  that  of  one  long  abandoned. 

In  the  Eelacion  for  1666-167,  in  a  chapter  entitled,  "  Jour- 
nal du  Voyage  du  Pere  Claude  Allouez  dans  le  Cais  ''des  Outa- 
•ouacs1 "  are  to  be  found  these  passages: 

"The  savages  respect  this  lake  as  a  divinity,  and  make 
sacrifices  to  it,  on  account  perhaps,  of  its  magnitude,  for  it  is 
two  hundred  leagues  long  and  eighty  leagues  wide;  or  on 
account  of  its  goodness  in  furnishing  them  with  fishes,  which 
nourish  all  these  people  where  there  is  but  little  game. 
There  are  often  found  beneath  the  water,  pieces  of  copper 


MINERAL   RESOURCES 


all  formed,  and  of  the  weight  of  ten  and  twenty  pounds.  I 
have  seen  them  many  times  in  the  hands  of  the  savages,  and 
as  they  are  superstitious,  they  keep  them  us  so  many  divini- 
ties, or  as  presents  from  the  gods  beneath  the  water,  who 
have  given  them  as  pledges  of  good  fortune.  On  that 
account  they  keep  the  pieces  of  copper  enveloped  among 
their  most  precious  furniture.  There  are  some  who  have  pre- 
served them  for  more  than  fifty  years,  and  others  who  have 
had  them  in  their  families  from  time  immemorial,  and  cherish 
them  as  household  gods. 

"  Sometime  since  a  large  mass  of  copper,  like  a  rock,  was 
seen  with  the  point  projecting  out  of  the  water.  This 
afforded  passers  by  an  opportunity  of  cutting  off  pieces. 
Nevertheless,  when  I  went  by  there  it  was  not  to  be  seen.  I 
believe  the  storms,  which  are  here  very  violent  and  like  those 
on  the  ocean,  had  covered  the  rock  with  sand.  Our  savages 
wished  to  persuade  us  that  it  was  a  divinity,  and  had  disap- 
peared, for  some  reason  which  they  did  not  mention." 

"  De  la  Mission  du  Sainte  Esprit  a  la  Pointe  de  Chagaoumi- 
fjond  dans  le  Lac  Tracy  ou. Super  ieur — Chapter  XI,  des  Pro~ 
prie  tez  et  Earitez.  We  find  in  Dr.  Jackson's  report,  made  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  in  1849,  the  following  transla- 
tions: 

"  The  lake  has  nearly  the  form  of  a  bended  bow,  of  more 
than  eighty  leagues  in  length.  The  southern  side  represents 
the  string,  and  a  long  tongue  of  land  which  springs  from  the 
south  shore,  and  projects  upwards  of  twenty-five  leagues  into 
the  lake  near  to  its  middle,  is  the  arrow."  (The  writer,  of 
course,  refers  to  Keweenaw  point,  and  his  illustration  of  the 
form  of  the  lake  was  apt  and  truthful,  though  he  does  not 
seem  to  have  had  an  accurate  knowledge  of  its  length.)  "  The 
northern  coast  is  bordered  with  frightful  crags,  which  are 
the  termination  of  that  prodigious  chain  of  mountains  which 
take  their  rise  at  Cape  Tourment,  above  Quebec,  and  extend 
to  this  place,  traversing  more  than  six  hundred  leagues  in 
extent,  and  losing  themselves  at  the  farther  extremity  of  the 
lake.  There  are  very  few  islands  in  the  lake,  and  they  occur 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


mostly  on  the  northern  side,  near  the  shore.  This  great 
expanse  of  the  waters  gives  room  for  the  winds,  which  agitate 
the  lake  with  as  much  violence  as  they  do  the  ocean." 

On   page  26,  of  the   same   work,   is   a  chapter  entitled, 
"  Mines  of  Copper  which  are  found  on  Lake  Superior:" 

u  Up  to  the  present  time  it  was  believed  that  these  mines 
were  found  only  on  one  or  two  of  the  islands;  but  since  we 
have  made  a  more,  careful  inquiry  we  have  learned  from  the 
savages  some  secrets  which  they  were  unwilling  to  reveal.  It 
was  necessary  to  use  much  address  in  order  to  draw  out  of 
them  the  knowledge,  and  to  discriminate  between  the  truth 
and  falsehood.  We  will  not  warrant,  however,  all  we  learned 
from  their  simple  statements,  since  we  shall  be  able  to  speak 
with  more  certainty  when  we  have  visited  the  places  them- 
selves, which  we  count  on  during  this  summer,  when  we' 
shall  go  to  find  the  l  wandering  sheep '  in  all  quarters  of  this 
great  lake.  The  first  place  where  copper  occurs  in  abundance, 
after  going  above  the  Sault,  is  on  an  island  about  forty  or 
fifty  leagues  therefrom,  near  the  north  shore,  opposite  a  place 
called  Missipiconatong. 

u  The  savages  say  it  is  a  floating  island,  which  is  sometimes 
far  off  and  sometimes  near,  according  as  the  winds  move  it, 
driving  it  sometimes  one  way  and  sometimes  another.  They 
add  that,  a  long  time  ago  four  Indians  accidentally  went 
there,  being  lost  in  a  fog,  with  which  this  island  is  almost 
always  surrounded.  It  was  long  before  they  had  any  trade 
with  the  French,  and  they  had  no  kettles  or  hatchets.  Wish- 
ing to  cook  some  food,  they  made  use  of  their  usual  method, 
taKing  stones  which  they  picked  up  on  the  shore,  heating 
them  in  the  fire,  and  throwing  them  into  a  bark  trough  full 
of  water,  in  order  to  make  it  boil,  and  by  this  operation  cook 
their  meat.  As  they  took  up  the  stones  they  found  they 
were  nearly  all  of  them  pure  copper.  After  having  partaken 
of  their  meal  they  thought  of  embarking,  fearing  to  remain 
lest  the  lynxes  and  the  rabbits,  which  are  in  the  place  as 
large  as  dogs,  would  come  and  eat  up  their  provisions,  and 
even  their  canoe.  Before  leaving  they  collected  a  quantity 


MINERAL   RESOURCES 


of  these  stones,  botli  large  and  small  ones,  and  even  some 
sheets  of  copper.  But  they  had  not  gone  far  from  the  shore 
before  a  loud  voice  was  heard,  saying  in  anger,  '  who  are 
these  robbers  who  have  stolen  the  cradles  and  playthings  of 
iny  children  ? '  The  sheets  of  copper  were  the  cradles,  for 
the  Indians  make  them  of  one  or  two  pieces  of  wood — a  flat 
piece  of  bark  with  a  hoop  over  one  end — the  child  being 
swathed  and  bound  upon  the  flat  piece.  The  little  pieces  of 
copper  which  they  took  were  the  playthings,  such  pebbles 
being  used  by  Indian  children  for  a  like  purpose.  This  voice 
greatly  alarmed  them,  not  knowing  what  it  could  be.  One 
said  to  the  others,  it  is  thunder,  because  there  are  frequent 
storms  there;  others  said,  it  is  a  certain  genii  whom  they 
call  Missibizi,  who  is  reputed  among  these  people  to  be  the 
god  of  the  waters,  as  Neptune  was  among  the  pagans ;  others 
said  that  it  came  from  Memogovissiousis — that  is  to  say,  sea- 
men, similar  to  the  famous  Tritons,  or  to  the  syrens,  which 
live  always  in  the  water,  with  their  Ions:  hair  reaching  to 
their  waists.  One  of  our  savages  said  he  had  seen  one  in  the 
water;  nevertheless,  he  must  have  merely  imagined  that  he 
did.  However,  this  voice  so  terrified  them  that  one  of  these 
voyageurs  died  before  they  reached  land.  Shortly  after  a 
second  one  of  them  expired;  then  a  third;  so  that  only  one 
of  them  remained,  who,  reaching  home,  told  all  that  had 
taken  place,  and  died  shortly  afterwards.  The  timid  and 
superstitious  savages  have  never  since  dared  to  go  there  for 
fear  of  losing  their  lives,  believing  that  there  are  certain 
genii  who  kill  those  who  land  there;  and  within  the  memory 
of  man  no  one  has  been  known  who  has  set  foot  on  that 
shore,  or  even  coasted  along  its  shores,  although  the  island  is 
within  sight,  and  even  the  trees  are  visible  upon  another 
island  called  Achemikonan. 

"  There  is  both  truth  and  error  in  this  story,  and  this  is 
probably  the  explanation:  These  savages  were  poisoned  by 
the  water  which  they  boiled  with  red  hot  copper,  which  by 
the  intensity  of  its  heat  gave  off  its  poison,  etc.  It  is  not  a 
poison  which  acts  immediately,  and  on  one  as  soon  as  it  will 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


on  another,  as  happened  in  the  case  of  these  Indians.     It  may 
be  that  when  they  were  taken  ill,  they  more  readily  imagined 
they  heard  a  voice;  perhaps  an  echo,  such  as  are  very  common 
among  the  rocks  which  border  this  island;  or,  perhaps,  they 
made  this  fable  since,  not  knowing  to  what  to  attribute  the 
death  of  these  Indians.     When  they  said  it  was  a  floating 
island  it  is  probable  they  may  have  been  misled  by  the  vapors 
which  surround  it;  they  being  rarified  or  condensed  by  the 
variable  action  of  the  sun's  rays,  made  the  island  appear  some- 
times near  and  sometimes  far  off.     It  is  certain,  however,  that 
it  is  a  common  belief  among  the  Indians  that  there  is  a  great 
abundance  of  copper  on  the  island;    but  they  dare  not  go 
there.     We  hope  to  begin  our  discoveries  upon  it  this  summer. 
"  Advancing  to  a  place  called  the  Grand  Anse,  (Great  Bay,) 
we  meet  with  an  island  which   is  celebrated  for  the  metal 
which  is  found  there,  and  for  the  thunder  which  takes  place, 
because  they  say  it  always  thunders  there,  (Thunder  Cape.)  But 
farther  towards  the  west,  on  the  same  north  shore,  is  the 
island  most  famous  for   copper,   called   Minong,  (the   good 
place,)  Isle  Royale.     This  island  is   twenty-five   leagues  in 
length;  it  is   seven  leagues   from  the  main  land,  and  sixty 
from  the  head  of  the  lake.     Nearly  all  around  the  island,  on 
the  water's   edge,   pieces   of  copper   are  found   mixed  with 
pebbles,   but   especially  on  the   side   which  is  opposite   the 
south,  in  principally  a  certain  bay  which  is  near  the  north- 
east  exposure   to   the   great  lake.      There   are  shores  '  tons 
escarpez  de  terre  glaize,'1  and   there   are   seen   several  beds 
or  layers  of  copper,  one  over  the  other,  separated  or  divided 
by  other  beds  of  earth  or  rocks.     In  the  water  is  seen  copper 
sand,  and  one  can  take  up  in  spoons  grains  of  the  -metal  big 
as  an  acorn,  and  others  as  fine  as  sand.     This  island  is  almost 
surrounded  with  islets,  which  are  said  to  be  composed  of  cop- 
per, and  they  are  met  with  even  to  the  main   land  on  the 
north.     Advancing  to  the  head  of  the  lake,  and  returning 
one  day's  journey,  by  the  south  coast,  there  is  seen  on  the 
edge  of  the  water  a  rock  of  copper  which  weighs  700  or  800 
pounds,  and  is  so  hard  that  steel  can  hardly  cut  it;  but  when 


10  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

it  is  heated  it  cuts  as  easily  as  lead.  Near  Point  Chagaouaii- 
orong,  where  a  mission  was  established,  (Lapointe,)  rocks  of 
copper  and  plates  of  the  same  metal  were  found  on  the  shores 
of  the  islands. 

"  Last  spring  we  bought  of  the  savages  a  sheet  of  pure  cop- 
per two  feet  square,  which  weighed  more  than  100  pounds. 
We  do  not  believe,  however,  that  the  mines  are  found  on 
these  islands,  but  that  the  copper  was  probably  brought  from 
Minong,  or  from  other  islands  by  floating  ice,  or  over  the 
bottom  of  the  lake  by  the  impetuous  winds,  which  are  very 
violent,  particularly  when  they  come  from  the  northeast. 

"  Returning  still  towards  the  mouth  of  the  lake,  following 
the  coast  on  the  south,  at  twenty  leagues  from  the  place  last 
mentioned,  we  enter  the  river  called  Nantounagan  (Ontona- 
gon,)  on  which  is  seen  an  eminence  where  stones  and  copper 
fall  into  the  water,  or  upon  the  earth;  they  are  readily 
found.  Three  years  since,  we  received  a  piece  which  was 
brought  from  this  place  which  weighed  a  hundred  pounds, 
and  we  sent  it  to  M.  Talon,  at  Quebec.  It  is  not  certain 
exactly  where  this  was  taken  from;  some  think  it  was  taken 
from  the  river;  others  that  it  was  from  near  the  lake  arid  dag 
up  from  the  soil. 

"Proceeding  still  further,  we  come  to  the  long  point  of 
land  which  we  have  compared  to  the  arrow  of  the  bow 
(Keweenaw  Point;)  at  the  extremity  of  this  there  is  a  small 
island  which  is  said  to  be  only  six  feet  square,  and  all  copper. 

"We  are  assured  that  copper  is  found  at  various  places 
along  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake.  All  the  information 
we  obtained  from  others  it  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  detail ; 
but  it  seems  necessary  that  more  exact  researches  should  be 
made,  and  this  is  what  we  shall  endeavor  to  effect.  If  God 
prospers  our  enterprise,  we  shall  speak  next  year  with  more 
certainty  and  knowledge.*' 

The  Relation  of  16TO-'71  contains  the  remarks  of  Pere 
Ablon.  On  page  91,  he  gives  an  account  of  the  copper 
mines:  "We  would  remark,  by  the  way,  that  copper  is  found 
in  all  parts  of  this  lake,  although  we  have  not  as  yet  suf- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  11 

ficiently  exact  knowledge,  for  want  of  thorough  explorations; 
nevertheless,  the  plates  of  this  metal  wliich  we  have  seen, 
weigh  each  a  hundred  or  two  hundred  pounds,  and  much 
more.  The  great  rock  of  copper  of  TOO  or  800  pounds,  and 
which  all  the  travelers  saw  near  the  head  of  the  lake,  besides 
a  quantity  of  pieces  which  are  found  near  the  shore,  in  vari- 
ous places,  seem  not  to  permit  us  to  doubt  that  there  are 
somewhere  the  parent  mines,  which  have  not  been 
discovered." 

These  accounts  are  from  the  letters  or  reports,  of  the 
Jesuit  missionaries;  Rene  Mesnard  having  been,  so  far  as  is 
known,  the  first  white  man  who  visited  this  region.  He  left 
Quebec  on  the  28th  of  August,  1660,  and  on  the  15th  of 
October  of  the  same  year  reached  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Bay 
(L'Anse,)  having  coasted  along  the  south  shore  in  a  frail  birch- 
bark  canoe.  Spending  the  winter  among  the  Indians  at  that 
point,  the  following  spring,  accompanied  by  only  a  single 
Indian,  he  started  for  Chaquamegon  Bay.  He  took  the  route 
through  Portage  Lake;  while  the  Indian  was  carrying  the 
canoe  across  the  Portage  to  Lake  Superior,  the  good  father 
wandered  into  the  woods,  and  was  never  seen  again.  That 
was  the  story  told  by  the  Indian ;  but  it  is  far  more  probable 
that  he  fell  a  victim  to  Indian  treachery.  Father  Claude 
Allouez  was  the  next  to  follow,  reaching  Lapointe  on  the 
first  of  October,  1665,  where  he  established  a  mission.  After 
him  came  James  Marquette  and  Claude  Dablon,  who  estab- 
lished a  mission  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  in  1668.  The  first  map 
of  Lake  Superior  was  drawn  by  Allouez  and  Marquette  in 
1668,  and  was  published  in  1672."  They  named  the  lake  "Lac 
Tracy  Ou  Superieur" 

In  1688,  Baron  Le  Houtan  published  a  book  of  travels  in 
Canada.  He  had  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  Allouez,  and 
describes  many  of  the  objects  spoken  of  by  the  latter.  After 
describing  the  lake,  and  the  people  who  dwelt  upon  its  shores, 
he  closes  by  saying  that  "  upon  it  we  also  find  copper  mines, 
the  metal  of  which  is  so  firm  and  plentiful  that  there  is  not 
a  seventh  part  base  from  the  ore." 


12  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

In  1721,  De  Charlevoix  visited  Lake  Superior  and  crossed 
from  the  falls  of  the  St.  Louis  river  to  the  Mississippi,  explor- 
ing that  river  to  the  Grulf  of  Mexico.  His  published  account 
is  much  more  minute  than  that  given  by  those  who  preceded 
him,  entering,  as  he  does,  more  into  details  concerning  the 
resources  of  the  country  through  which  he  passed.  Speak- 
ing of  Lake  Superior,  he  says:  "Large  pieces  of  copper  are 
found  in  some  places  on  its  banks,  and  around  some  of  the 
islands,  which  are  still  the  objects  of  a  superstitious  worship 
among  the  Indians.  They  look  upon  them  with  veneration, 
as  if  they  were  the  presents  of  those  gods  who  dwell  under 
the  waters;  they  collect  the  smallest  fragments  which  they 
preserve,  without,  however,  making  any  use  of  them.  They 
say  that  formerly  a  large  rock  of  this  metal  was  to  be  seen 
elevated  a  considerable  height  above  the  surface  of  the  water, 
and  as  it  has  now  disappeared,  they  pretend  the  gods  have 
carried  it  elsewhere;  but  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that 
in  process  of  time  the  waves  of 'the  lake  have  covered  it 
entirely  with  sand  and  slime;  and  it  is  certain  that  in  several 
places  pretty  large  quantities  of  this  metal  have  been  dis- 
covered without  being  obliged  to  dig  very  deep.  During  the 
course  of  my  first  voyage  to  this  country,  I  was  acquainted 
with  one  of  our  order,  (the  Jesuits,)  who  had  been  formerly  a 
goldsmith,  and  who,  while  he  was  at  the  mission  of  Sault  De 
Ste.  Marie,  used  to  search  for  this  metal,  and  made  candle- 
sticks, crosses,  and  censers  of  it;  for  this  copper  is  often  to 
be  met  with  almost  pure." 

In  1765,  Capt.  Jonathan  Carver,  starting  from  Mackinac, 
coasted  to  Green  Bay  in  company  with  some  fur  traders, 
then  ascended  the  Fox  river  through  Lake  Winnebago,  to 
the  portage  between  that  river  and  the  Wisconsin,  and  thence 
descended  the  latter  to  the  Mississippi.  From  there  he  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Anthony,  where  he  remained 
with  the  Indians  until  the  spring  of  1767,  when  he  retraced 
his  steps  to  the  Chippewa  river,  and  made  his  way  up  that 
stream  to  an  Indian  village  of  the  same  name.  From  there 
he  crossed  over  to  a  head  branch  of  the  St.  Croix,  descended 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  13 

this  branch,  to  a  fork,  and  then  ascended  another  to  its 
source.  On  both  of  these  rivers,  he  says,  he  discovered 
"mines  of  virgin  copper,  which  was  as  fine  as  that  found  in 
any  other  country"  From  the  head  waters  of  the  St.  Croix 
his  route  was  to  the  sources  of  a  river  which  he  named  God- 
dard's  River,  was  most  probably  the  Bois  Brule  which  he 
descended  to  Lake  Superior.  He  says  in  his  publication  that 
the  Ontonagon  river  is  "  remarkable  for  the  abundance  of 
virgin  copper  that  is  found  on  and  near  its  banks,  a  metal 
which  is  met  with  also  in  several  other  places  on  this  coast." 
u  I  observed,"  says  he,  u  that  many  of  the  small  islands,  par- 
ticularly those  on  the  Eastern  shores,  were  covered  with  cop- 
per ore."  His  book  was,  justly  perhaps,  regarded  by  many  as 
a  second  edition  of  Gulliver's  travels,  and  it  is  certain  that 
the  subsequent  explorations  of  the  country  through  which 
he  passed  failed  to  confirm  the  truth  of  many  of  his  state- 
ments, which  appear  to  have  been  merely  the  creations  of  a 
vivid  imagination.  That  he  visited  the  places  he  describes 
there  is  no  good  reason  to  doubt;  that  he  discovered  "mines 
of  copper"  on  the  Chippewa  or  St.  Croix  no  one  is  now  will- 
ing to  believe.  He  may  have  seen  a  few  boulders,  and  from 
their  presence  took  it  for  granted  that  they  came  from 
"  mines"  near  by,  but  which  really  had  no  existence.  Such 
boulders  are  occasionally  found  far  removed  from  any  known 
lodes  of  the  ore  or  metal,  but  their  only  significance  is  to 
confirm  belief  in  the  glacial  theory.  However,  the  publi- 
cation of  his  book  of  travels  produced  such  a  sensation  in 
England  that  a  copper  company  was  at  once  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  developing  the  mines  Carver  claimed  to  have 
discovered.  This  was  in  1770.  The  company  engaged  in 
their  arduous  and  doubtful  enterprise  with  great  spirit  and 
enthusiasm. 

The  details  of  the  operations  and  failure  of  this  company 
have  been  preserved  in  a  book  published  by  Alexander 
Henry,  entitled  "  Travels  and  Adventures  in  Canada  and  the 
Indian  Territories  between  the  Years  1760  and  1776." 
Henry  was  the  earliest  English  traveler  who  visited  the 


14  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

shores  of  Lake  Superior  of  whom  we  have  any  account. 
Mr.  Henry  was  an  adventurous  gentleman.  He  escaped  the 
dread  fate  of  others  at  the  Mackinaw  massacre;  was  an  Indian 
captive  and  carried  into  the  Rocky  Mountains;  was  a  fur 
trader,  and,  after  the  ancient  miner,  was  the  first  mine  super- 
intendent on  the  lake.  He  was  also  the  historian  of  this  first 
mining  enterprise,  and  in  his  book  gives  an  account  of  a  trip 
made  by  him  along  the  south  shore  of  the  lake  in  1765, 
which  shows  that  he  was  here  in  advance  of  Carver.  He  says : 

"  On  the  19th  of  August,  1765,  we  reached  the  mouth  of 
the  Ontonagon  river,  one  of  the  largest  on  the  south  side  of 
the  lake.  At  the  mouth  was  an  Indian  village,  and  three 
leagues  above,  a  fall,  at  the  foot  of  which  sturgeon  at  this 
season  were  obtained  so  abundant  that  a  month's  subsistence 
for  a  regiment  could  have  been  taken  in  a  few  hours.  But  I 
found  this  river  chiefly  remarkable  for  the  abundance  of  cop- 
per which  is  on  its  banks  and  its  neighborhood,  and  of  which 
the  reputation  is  at  present  more  generally  spread  than  it  was 
at  the  time  of  my  first  visit. 

"  The  copper  presented  itself  to  the  eye  in  masses  of  vari- 
ous weight.  The  Indians  showed  me  one  of  twenty  pounds. 
They  were  used  to  manufacture  this  metal  into  spoons  and 
bracelets  for  themselves.  In  the  perfect  state  in  which  they 
found  it,  it  required  nothing  but  to  beat  it  into  shape.  The 
Piwatie,  or  Iron  river,  enters  the  lake  to  the  westward  of  the 
Ontonagon,  and,  hence,  as  is  pretended,  silver  teas  found 
while  the  country  was  in  possession  of  the  French. 

"  On  my  way  back  to  Michilimackinac,  I  encamped  a  sec- 
ond time  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ontonagon  river,  and  now  took 
the  opportunity  of  going  ten  miles  up  the  river  with  Indian 
guides.  The  object  for  which  I  most  expressly  went,  and  to 
which  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  being  led,  was  a  mass  of  cop- 
per of  the  weight,  according  to  my  estimate,  of  no  less  than 
five  tons.  Such  was  its  pure  and  malleable  state,  that  with 
an  axe  I  was  able  to  cut  off  a  portion  weighing  a  hundred 
pounds.  On  viewing  the  surrounding  surface,  I  conjectured 
that  the  mass,  at  some  period  or  other,  had  rolled  from  the 
side  of  ^  lofty  hill  which  rises  at  its  back." 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  15 

In  1770,  Henry  built  a  sloop  of  forty  tons,  at  Point  Aux 
Pins,  and  in  the  spring  of  1771,  with  a  party  of  miners, 
sailed  on  a  voyage  of  discovery  around  the  lake,  finally  land- 
ing at  the  mouth  of  the  Ontonagon,  in  the  fall  of  that  year, 
where  they  built  a  house.  Having  pitched  upon  a  spot  for 
the  commencement  of  operations,  and  arranged  everything 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  miners  during  the  winter,  he 
returned  to  the  Sault.  He  says: 

"Early  in  the  spring  of  1772,  we  sent  a  boat  load  of  pro- 
visions, but  it  came  back  on  the  20th  of  June,  bringing  with 
it,  to  our  surprise,  the  whole  establishment  of  miners.  They 
reported  that  in  the  course  of  the  winter  they  had  penetrated 
into  the  face  of  the  hill,  but  on  the  arrival  of  a  thaw,  the  clay 
on  which,  because  of  its  stiffness,  they  had  relied,  and  neg- 
lected to  secure  by  proper  supporters,  had  fallen  in;  that 
from  the  detached  masses  of  metal,  which  to  the  last  had 
daily  presented  themselves,  they  supposed  there  might  ulti- 
mately be  reached  a  body  of  the  same;  but  they  could  form 
no  conjecture  of  its  distance,  except  that  it  was  probably  so 
far  off  as  not  to  be  pursued  without  sinking  an  air  shaft; 
and,  lastly,  that  the  work  would  require  the  hands  of  more 
men  than  could  be  fed,  in  the  actual  state  of  the  country. 

"Here  our  operations  ended.  The  metal  was  probably 
within  our  reach,  but  if  we  had  found  it,  the  expense  of  car- 
rying it  to  Montreal  must  have  exceeded  its  marketable  value. 
It  was  never  for  the  exportation  of  copper  that  our  company 
was  formed,  but  always  with  a  view  to  the  silver,  which  it 
was  hoped  the  ores,  whether  of  copper  or  lead,  might  in  suffi- 
cient quantity  contain." 

According  to  Dr.  Hough  ton,  "Henry  began  his  operations 
at  Miner's  river,  in  the  upper  gray  sandstone;  and,  also,  on 
Ontonagon  river,  near  the  mass  of  native  copper,  at  which 
point  a  shaft  was  commenced  and  carried  about  forty  feet 
through  a  reddish  clay,  at  which  point  the  red  sand  rock  was 
reached.'1  Why  Henry  failed  is  obvious  to  any  practical 
miner  of  to-day. 


16  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

Later  on,  from  time  to  time,  scientific  and  treaty  making 
expeditions  were  conducted  up  the  chain  of  lakes,  and  thence 
across  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi.  Governor  Cass, 
Mr.  Schoolcraft,  Colonel  Long,  U.  S.  A.,  and  others,,  men 
eminent  in  affairs  and  scientific  acumen,  early  in  the  present 
century,  gave  to  the  world  in  graceful  and  instructive  narra- 
tive the  sum  of  their  observations  and  discoveries. 

In  an  humbler  sphere,  perhaps  with  more  selfish  aims,  the 
great  fur  trading  companies  were  largely  instrumental  in 
bringing  the  lake  region  into  notice.  The  Hudson  Bay, 
Northwest  and  American  fur  companies  had  extended  their 
almost  regal  sway  from  the  lakes  to  the  Polar  regions,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  ocean.  Penetrating  the  great 
trackless  wilderness,  ransacking  those  boundless  solitudes,  the 
contemplation  of  which  now  fills  the  mind  with  wonder  and 
awe,  the  hardy  hunters  and  trappers,  the  voyageurs  and  cour- 
iers du  bois,  pursued  their  adventurous  calling.  Neither 
heat  nor  cold;  nor  toil,  nor  hunger,  nor  savage  foe.  nor 
mountain  heights,  nor  boundless  plains,  nor  swollen  torrents, 
nor  tempestuous  lakes,  nor  labyrinthian  swamps  stopped 
these  enduring  continental  rangers.  The  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  countries  traversed  acquired  by  these  men  of  the 
woods,  was  great,  and  although  the  policy  of  the  fur  trading 
monopolies  was  close  and  repressive,  yet  it  was  not  possible 
to  wholly  prevent  some  portion  of  that  knowledge  concerning 
those  vast,  richly  endowed  solitudes  reaching  the  outer  world. 
At  a  later  day,  these  voyageurs  —  of  the  rank  and  file  —  be- 
came useful  aids  in  the  exploration  and  settlement  of  the 
Upper  Peninsula.  Many  of  our  respected  French  citizens, 
of  to-day,  were  of  this  class. 

Notwithstanding  the  very  considerable  measure  of  knowl- 
edge gathered  from  all  of  the  above-mentioned  sources,  yet 
it  must  be  confessed  that  even  at  so  late  a  period  as  1840, 
that  knowledge  seems  not  to  have  spread  far  or  wide.  The 
general  public  regarded  the  great  Northwest  as  through  a 
glass,  darkly.  We  extract  a  paragraph  or  two,  from  the 
Detroit  Free  Press,  to  illustrate  this  point;  these  extracts 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  17 

also  fix  the  date  of  the  first  bill  for  an  appropriation  for  the 
St.  Marie  ship  canal: 

WASHINGTON,  April  21st,  1840. 

This  day  in  the  senate,  the  bill  granting  to  the  State  of  Michigan 
100,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  her  in  the  construction  of  a  canal  around 
the  falls  of  Ste.  Marie,  came  up  again  on  third  reading.  Mr.  Norvel 
and  others,  advocated  the  bill.  Mr.  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  took  occasion 
to  speak  of  the  work  as  one  beyond  the  range  of  the  remotest  settle- 
ments in  the  United  States,  or  in  the  moon.  Senator  Norvel  advocated 
the  bill  mainly  on  the  ground  that  the  completion  of  the  canal  would 
stimulate  the  fisheries  of  Lake  Superior,  estimated  to  be  worth  one 
million  of  dollars  per  annum.  The  honorable  Senator  added,  "  In  the 
country  bordering  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  copper  ore 
and  other  minerals  are  believed  to  exist  in  abundance." 

It  remained  for  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton,  the  first  and 
ablest  State  geologist  of  Michigan,  to  make  such  careful 
exploration  of  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior  as  to  clear 
up  the  mists  of  tradition,  illuminate  the  subject  and  attract 
the  attention  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  and  of 
Europe  to  the  new  mineral  fields  of  North  America.  Dr.  H. 
first  visited  Lake  Superior  in  1830,  with  Gen.  Cass.  While 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Ontonagon,  the  whole  party  went  up 
the  river  to  see  the  famous  copper  rock  referred  to  by  Henry. 
The  year  after  he  came  back  with  the  Schoolcraft  expedition, 
which  was  sent  out  by  the  general  government  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi.  Having 
prepared  himself  with  chisels,  he  again  visited  the  copper  rock, 
and  cut  off  and  took  away  some  specimens,  which  are  still 
retained  in  the  family.  In  cutting  off  the  specimens  he  broke 
two  of  his  chisels,  which  he  left  on  top  of  the  rock.  While 
making  his  first  geological  survey  in  1840,  he  again  visited 
the  rock,  and  found  his  broken  chisels  just  as  he  had  left 
them,  nine  years  before.  His  first  report  to  the  legislature. 
in  1841,  after  ten  years  of  explorative  toil,  produced  a  great 
impression.  In  1844,  Dr.  Houghton  took  a  contract  from  the 
general  government  to  make  the  linear  surveys  on  the  lands 
bordering  Lake  Superior  on  the  south,  combining  them  with 
the  geological  survey.  This  system  was  his  own — the  rapid, 


18  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

careful,  minute  manner  in  which  the  surveys  were  conducted 
under  it,  is  the  best  evidence  of  its  wisdom. 

Dr.  Houghton  was  ably  and  faithfully  assisted  in  his  sur- 
veys by  Messrs.  Win.  A.  Burt,  Bela  Hubbard,  C.  C.  Douglass, 
Wm.  Ives,  8.  W.  Hill,  Mr.  Higgins  and  Jacob  Houghton,  Jr. 

In  the  autumn  of  1845,  while  on  his  last  expedition  for 
the  season,  when  approaching  Eagle  river  in  a  small  boat,  a 
sudden  storm  arose,  and  before  his  "frail  bark  could  find  a  safe 
landing  place,  on  the  iron-bound  shore,  it  was  capsized  and 
all  on  board  perished,  save  one  man.  The  whole  country  was 
shocked  at  the  announcement  of  this  tragical  event,  and 
science  mourned  for  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments.  Aside 
from  personal  considerations,  his  death  was  to  be  deplored; 
many  of  his  field  notes  were  lost  with  him,  and  the  treasures 
of  his  well  stored  mind  were  irreparably  beyond  recall.  His 
final  report,  which  he  was  prepared  to  make,  could  never  be 
given  to  the  world.  Mr.  Bela  Hubbard  completed  the  contract 
which  Dr.  Houghton  had  entered  into  with  the  United  States 
Government.  Mr.  Hubbard  and  Wm.  A.  Burt.  Esq.,  subse- 
quently made  interesting  and  valuable  sub-reports  of  their 
operations. 

Dr.  Houghton  was  small  in  statue,  blue  eyed,  with  light 
hair;  temperament  exceedingly  active  and  nervous.  He  was 
hardy,  bold  and  daring,  even  to  rashness;  he  endured  the  toil, 
hardships  and  privations  of  a  life  in  the  rough  wilderness 
with  unconquerable  resolution.  He  was  a  leader  among  men. 
Said  one  of  our  upper  peninsula  representatives  in  an  address 
before  the  members  of  the  legislature  of  1875:'  u  Here  let 
us  pause — for  DOUGLASS  HOUGHTON  is  a  name  which  no  citi- 
zen of  Michigan,  and  certainly  no  Lake  Superior  man,  can 
pass  without  a  tribute;  unspoken,  perhaps,  but  none  the  less 
stirring,  deep  and  pure  in  the  bottom  of  his  heart.  The 
world  has  now  but  just  turned  from  the  pageant  which  fol- 
lowed to  an  illustrious  tomb,  the  scarred  and  weather  beaten 
frame  of  that  great  man.  Dr.  Livingstone,  who  gave  up  his 
life  to  his  God,  humbly  kneeling  by  his  rough  couch  in  the 
wilds  of  Africa,  where  no  other  white,  man's  foot  had  ever 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


trod,  in  magnificent  solitude.  We  have  here  no  enormous 
London,  no  rich  and  cultured  people,  bowing  in  enthusiasm 
before  the  thrones  of  intellect,  science,  genius  and  heroism; 
no  titled  hereditary  lords  and  sovereigns,  in  funereal  train; 
no  vast  and  sombre  monumental  pile,  where  rest  in  peace  the 
ashes  of  the  mighty  dead.  We  are  a  rough,  practical,  money 
making  race ;  seldom,  in  our  busy  life  can  we  pause  to  ponder 
on  the  goodness  of  a  by-gone  friend ;  and  we  shudder  to  think 
how  soon  the  stream  of  life  will  close  over  our  heads  after 
we  too  have  followed.  But  we  have  great,  warm,  working, 
western  hearts,  which  the  icy  waters  that  were  his  winding 
sheet  cannot  chill,  and  they  shall  be  our  Westminster  Abbey 
—DOUGLASS  HOUGHTO^'S  mausoleum."  His  remains  were 
not  recovered  until  the  spring  of  1846.  when  they  were  taken 
to  Detroit  by  his  brother,  Jacob  Houghton,  Jr.,  for  inter- 
ment. The  same  spring  the  writer  of  this  encamped  at 
Eagle  river,  and  observed  a  plank  nailed  to  a  hut  with  the 
following  rude  inscription:  "Douglass  Houghton  wrecked 
Oct.  13,  1845."  This  is  the  only  monument  that  the  people 
of  Lake  Superior  have  yet-  erected  to  the  memory  of  one  of 
their  earliest  and  best  benefactors. 

In  the  year  1846-7,  Dr.  Jackson  was  commissioned  by  the 
United  States  Government  to  make  further  geological  sur- 
veys. He  appeared  on  the  lake  with  a  large  party  of  inter- 
esting young  men.  He  spent  some  time  in  visiting  the  work- 
ing mines  and  in  collecting  niiiieralogical  specimens.  He 
employed  as  assistants  Messrs.  Foster  and  Whitney,  who  had 
been  in  the  country  one  or  two  years — acting  as  geologists, 
we  believe,  for  private  exploring  parties.  About  mid-sum- 
mer, Dr.  Jackson  sailed  for  Isle  Roy  ale,  accompanied  by  Pro- 
fessor Foster,  John  H.  Mullett,  surveyor,  and  others.  The 
object  of  the  expedition  was  a  brief  examination  of  the 
island,  but  as  no  vessel  came  for  the  distinguished  party,  it 
was  detained  there  many  weeks.  Their  observations  were 
confined  to  the  immediate  shores  of  Rock  Harbor,  and  a  study 
of  the  piscatorial  inhabitants  of  that  charming  inlet. 

In  1848,  Doctor  Jackson  was  superseded  by  Messrs.  Foster 


20  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

and  Whitney,  and  the  valuable  report  which  they  gave  to  the 
world  is  evidence  enough  of  the  able  manner  in  which  they 
discharged  their  duties.  In  1873,  Professor  Foster,  LL.D.t 
published  an  interesting  work  entitled  Pre-Historic  Races  of 
the  United  States  of  America.  He  died  in  Chicago  in  1874. 
Professor  Whitney  has  since  become  eminent  as  state  geolo- 
gist of  California. 

In  the  summer  of  1842,  a  treaty  was  made  with  the 
Chippewa  Indians,  by  Robert  Stewart,  which  was  ratified  by 
the  Senate  at  the  next  session  of  Congress.  By  this  treaty  r 
all  the  country  east  of  Fond  du  Lac,  including  the  islands  in 
Lake  Superior  not  previously  acquired,  was  ceded  to  the 
United  States.  Immediately  after  the  ratification  of  this 
treaty,  applications  were  made  for  permits  to  explore  and  dig 
for  copper  ore,  within  the  limits  of  the  territory  thus  acquired. 
Hon.  David  Henshaw,  of  Boston,  was  then  Secretary  of  War, 
'and  he  not  only  gave  these  applications  favorable  considera- 
tion, but  through  his  influence  Boston  capitalists  were 
enlisted  in  the  prosecution  of  the  first  mining  enterprises; 
and  ever  since  then  Boston  has  been  largely  identified  with 
the  development  of  the  Lake  Superior  copper  interest.  She 
is  interested  in,  if,  indeed,  she  does  not  control,  all  the  larger 
mines;  and  her  investments  have  all  been  returned  with 
interest,  though  the  money  may,  in  some  instances,  have  gone 
into  the  pockets  of  others  than  those  who  made  the  original 
investment. 

Caught  in  the  whirl  of  excitement  which  pervaded  the 
country  the  writer  of  this,  in  the  spring  of  1846,  found  him- 
self one  of  a  packed  crowd  on  a  small  steamer  commanded 
by  Eber  B.  Ward,  late  millionaire  of  Detroit,  bound  for  the 
copper  mines.  He  reached  the  Sault  in  due  time,  and  found 
that  old  trading  post  transformed  into  a  very  lively  city  of 
white  tents  filled  with  gay  adventurers.  A  wagon  road  led 
across  the  portage;  baggage  and  freight  were  transported  to 
the  head  of  the  falls  on  carts.  A  few  small  schooners  and 
the  propeller  Independence,  which  had  been  hauled  over  the 
portage,  constituted  the  Lake  Superior  fleet.  The  side 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  21 

wheeler.  Julia  Palmer,  was  that  year  hauled  over.  We 
embarked  upon  the  schooner  Swallow,  and  spread  our 
blankets  in  the  main  hold,  on  top  of  the  freight.  We  sailed, 
and  six  days  thereafter  made  our  first  landing  at  Presque  Isle, 
near  the  now  beautiful  and  enterprising  city  of  Marquette, 
then  among  the  things  to  be.  On  that  rocky  peninsula  we 
met  some  Cornish  miners  at  work  on  a  smaJJ  vein  of  pyritous 
copper  associated  with  sulphuret  of  lead.  Some  beef  cattle 
which  we  had  brought  for  these  miners  were  thrown  over- 
board and  left  to  swim,  in  the  ice  cold  water,  to  the  shore. 
On  the  seventh  day  out  from  the  Sault  the  vessel  reached 
€opper  Harbor. 

Copper  Harbor  is  a  good,  rock-bound  haven,  and  has  always 
faeen  esteemed  b}^  navigators  as  a  harbor  of  refuge  on  that 
stormy  coast.  It  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  and  enlivened 
as  it  was  in  the  summer  of  1846,  by  numerous  canoes, 
Mackinaws  and  sloops,  darting  to  and  fro,  it  formed  a  lively 
picture.  These  small  vessels  belonged  to  the  copper  explorers. 
Opposite  the  mouth  of  the  harbor  is  seen  the  wreck  of  the 
fur  trading  brig  Astor,  her  ribs  bleaching  upon  the  inhospi- 
table rocks.  Located  at  the  head  of  the  bay  is  the  Brock  way 
House.  Father  Brockway,  the  genial  landlord  of  that  inn, 
still  resides  in  the  copper  country;  he  has  dwelt  in  the  land 
continuously,  displaying  great  adhesiveness  and  endurance; 
may  his  shadow  never  be  less!  Two  of  his  daughters,  who 
are  emphatically  Lake  Superior  ladies,  u  to  the  manor  born," 
were  married  in  the  country,  namely,  Mrs.  Farwell  and  Mrs. 
J.  N.  Scott.  Nearly  opposite  Brockway's  is  Porter's  Island, 
a  bit  of  .rock,  upon  which  was  built  the  u  government  house," 
the  residence  of  that  high  and  potent  individual,  the  U.  S. 
agent,  who  reigned  over  the  copper  land,  countersigning  per- 
mits and  dispensing  favors  of  a  consular  nature.  The  then 
occupant  was  Major  McNair,  a  large,  dignified  Pennsylvanian, 
with  Freeman  Norvell,  now  of  the  Spurr  Mountain  iron 
mine,  as  secretary.  Near  the  eastern  end  of  the  harbor,  a 
little  way  back  from  the  shore,  was  situated,  upon  the  margin 
of  lake  Fanny  Hoe,  the  small  stockade  called  Fort  Wilkins, 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


it  was  screened  from  the  winds  by  a  native  grove  of  poplars, 
birch  and  fir.  One  company  of  infantry  was  stationed  at  the 
fort  under  the  command  of  Captain  Alburtis.  In  the  fall  of 
1847,  the  troop  was  ordered  to  Mexico,  and  the  gallant  cap- 
tain was  decapitated  by  a  cannon  "ball,  in  front  of  V  era  Cruz. 
Charlie  Brush — the  good,  genial,  hospitable  sutler  of  the  post 
—who  among  th^  old  pioneers  will  ever  forget  his  unremitting 
kindness!  He  has  been  dead  many  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1843,  Walter  Cunningham  who  had 
been  appointed  Special  Agent  for  the  mines  on  Lake  Superior, 
in  company  with  some  twenty  persons,  landed  at  Copper 
Harbor,  where  he  established  his  agency.  This  agency 
remained  at  Copper  Harbor  until  the  spring  of  1846,  when  it 
was  removed  by  Gen.  John  Stockton  to  Sault  de  Ste.  Marie, 
with  assistants  stationed  at  Copper  Harbor,  at  the  mouth  of 
Ontonagon  river,  and  La  Pointe. 

About  that  time  Col.  Charles  H.  Gratiot,  with  a  company 
of  miners  from  Gratiot's  Grove,  arrived  at  Copper  Harbor, 
and  also  a  company  consisting  of  Thomas  Carrol  and  others, 
from  Vinegar  Hill,  Wisconsin.  This  last  company  immedi- 
ately proceeded  up  the  lake  as  far  as  Ontonagon  river.  They 
here  found  James  K.  Paul  and  Nick  D.  Miniclier,  who  had 
reached  there  some  time  in  the  month  of  March,  having 
crossed  the  country  by  land  from  Plattville.  Paul  and  Mini- 
clier were  the  first  miners  who  came  into  the  country,  for 
the  purpose  of  mining,  after  those  under  Henry,  in  1771. 
They  had  coine  to  take,  and  were  in  possession  of  the  copper 
rock,  which  they  had  succeeded  in  removing  to  the  mouth  of 
the  river.  It  was  sold  by  them  to  Julius  Eldred,  and  afterwards 
seized  by  the  government  and  taken  to  Washington,  where 
it  still  remains. 

The  policy  of  the  general  government  at  this  time  was 
not  to  sell  mineral  lands,  nor  allow  pre-emptions.  These 
lands  were  not  controlled  by  the  general  land  office,  but  by 
the  War  Department.  As  before  stated,  an  agent  of  the 
War  Department  was  stationed  on  Porter's  Island,  with  his 
corps  of  engineers  and  draughtsmen.  Permits,  as  they  were 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


called,  were  issued  in  Washington.  These  permits  at  first 
covered  nine  square  miles,  but  were  finally  reduced  to  one 
square  mile.  This  permitted  you  to  enter  upon  any  lands 
not  otherwise  claimed;  you  were  allowed  one  year  for  explora- 
tion, and  three  more  years  to  mine,  with  the  privilege  of  two 
renewals  of  three  years  each,  making  the  whole  term  ten 
years.  The  Department  required  returns  to  be  made  to  the 
Mineral  Agency,  giving  an  account  of  the  work  performed 
and  mineral  raised,  and  a  payment  to  the  mineral  col- 
lector, at  the  rate  of  twenty  per  cent,  mineral  value.  The 
term  of  the  grant  or  lease,  was  presumed  to  be  ample  to 
enable  the  fortunate  holder  thereof  to  realize  immense  gains, 
such  wealth  as  would  lead  him  to  regard  as  mere  bagatelles 
the  mine  plant  and  other  improvements  which  would  revert 
to  the  government.  Afterwards  commissioners  were  sent  to 
appraise  the  mineral  lands  and  fix  a  money  value  on  them. 
Five  dollars  per  acre,  if  our  memory  serves  us,  was  the  valua- 
tion. Later,  all  lands  were  subject  to  pre-emption  except 
mineral  lands.  Finally,  all  lands,  without  exception,  remain- 
ing unsold,  (save  school  and  canal  lands)  were  thrown  open 
to  pre-emption,  and  could  be  had  for  one  dollar  and  a  quarter 
per  acre.  Lands  held  under  permits  required  personal  occu- 
pancy. These  permits  were  issued  in  vast  numbers,  still 
there  was  much  wire-pulling  used  to  secure  these  invaluable 
documents,  the  mere  possession  of  which  was  enough  to 
make  a  man  happy  and  affluent.  It  was  the  business  of 
geologists,  surveyors  and  explorers  to  hunt  up  eligible  land 
upon  which  to  plaster  the  permits.  The  country  was  pros- 
pected thoroughly  for  this  purpose,  but  at  last  an  actual 
examination  of  land  suitable  for  "locations"  was  abandoned 
as  too  slow,  and  the  work  of  locating  was  done  in  the  office,  on 
the  maps.  One  of  the  consequences  was,  that  when  the  own- 
ers came  to  examine  their  properties,  guaranteed  to  be  rich  in 
copper  and  silver,  the  lands  were  found  to  be  out  under  the 
lake,  or  down  among  the  lower  Silurians.  A  powerful  mag- 
nifying glass  was  an  indispensable  instrument  to  an  expert 
explorer.  It  took  but  a  few  grains  of  copper  to  insure  a  good 


24  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

vein.  Geologists,  and  the  practical  miner  from  Cornwall, 
assured  us  that  that  was  enough  to  start  on.  One  had  only 
to  "  sink  "  on  the  vein  to  be  rewarded,  in  due  time,  with  an 
abundant  yield.  Since  that  day  there  has  been  much  "  sink- 
ing "  done  but  not  always  with  the  results  predicted.  Many 
of  our  readers  will  remember  how  it  used  to  be  necessary  to 
salivate  a  mineral  specimen  in  order  to  bring  out  its  beauty. 

We  learn  from  a  valuable  book,  entitled,  "  Reports  on  the 
Mineral  Region  of  Lake  Superior — published  in  1846,  by 
Jacob  Houghton,  Jr.,  and  T.  W.  Bristol,1'  that  there  was 
made  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior  upon  permits 
issued  from  the  War  Department  at  Washington,  and  appli- 
cations to  the  Mineral  Agency  at  Copper  Harbor  from  August, 
1844,  to  November,  1845,  595  locations.  As  this  business  was 
most  active  in  1846,  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  from  first  to 
last  more  than  1,000  locations  were  made. 

Many  of  these  locations  were  worthless,  and  perhaps  a 
majority  were  never  occupied  as  mines,  at  least,  not  until  many 
years  afterward,  and  then  by  other  parties;  the  laads  fell  back 
into  the  hands  of  the  general  government  for  disposal  at 
some  future  day. 

We  are  very  certain  that  the  Ste.  Marie  falls  Company 
has  not  realized  its  humble  aspirations.  We  quote  from 
prospectus:  "  This  company  has  secured  fcur  islands  in  the 
Falls,  as  desirable  locations  for  erecting  stamping  mills,  etc.1' 
Think  of  the  Calumet  shipping  800  tons  of  rock  per  day  to 
the  Sault,  for  treatment! 

In.  the  earlier  times,  when  permits  were  in  vogue,  a  man 
was  hired  at  twenty  dollars  a  month  and  provisions,  and  sent 
far  into  the  woods  to  hold  possession  of  a  claim.  By  the  side 
of  some  brook  he  erected  out  of  poles  and  cedar  bark  the 
rudest  of  huts;  some  hemlock  boughs,  thrown  upon  the 
ground,  formed,  with  the  aid  of  a  pair  of  blankets,  a  couch;  a 
fire  in  the  middle  of  the  hut  served  for  warmth  and  cookery. 
The  smoke  was  expected  to  escape  through  a  liberal  hole  in 
the  roof,  but  it  did  not  always  satisfy  expectation;  on  the 
contrary,  it  persisted  in  remaining  inside;  this  was  good  in 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  25 

the  mosquito  season,  and,  strange  to  say,  the  human  occu- 
pant of  this  tabernacle  did  not  seem  to  mind  it — only  he 
smelt  smoky  to  one  of  delicate  olfactories.  In  winter,  when 
this  rude  habitation  was  covered  with  snow,  but  for  the  smoke 
issuing  from  the  peak,  one  would  mistake  it  for  a  natural 
mound,  or  large  boulder.  The  fire  in  this  lodge  was  never 
allowed  to  go  out;  in  the  ashes  stood  an  iron  kettle,  always 
simmering  with  delectable  bean  porridge,  hot;  this  porridge, 
and  bread  baked  in  the  ashes,  constituted  the  u  baked  meats  " 
all  the  year  round;  a  cup  of  tea  or  coffee,  pure,  served  to 
enliven  the  repast;  a  pipe  of  "  soul-soothing  tobacco"  was  a 
constant  companion.  After  several  years  of  seeming  wasted  life 
— and  certainly  it  was  a  terrible  life,  to  spend  a  long,  dreary 
winter  in  one  of  those  lonely  hovels — the  necessity  of  watch- 
ing locations  was  done  away  with.  Then,  perhaps,  the  origi- 
nal locators,  having  abandoned  their  claims,  the  watchers 
became  squatters,  and  some  of  them  in  time  realized  hand- 
somely from  the  sale  of  lands  to  mining  corporations.  They 
-deserved  all  they  got. 

Upon  the  first  threatening  of  winter  in  the  autumn  of 
1846,  all  fair  weather  birds,  all  high  governmental  dignitaries, 
all  who'  cared  not  to  brave  the  rigors  of  the  climate,  sought 
more  genial  climes.  Those  who  remained,  settled  down  to 
the  regular  work  of  mining,  or  to  watch  developments,  so  as 
to  be  ready  for  new  enterprises  when  the  whelming  snows 
should  have  disappeared,  on  the  return  of  summer. ' 

The  people  whom  the  winter  of  1846-7  found  residents  in 
the  isolated  wilderness  in  which  the  mines  were  situated, 
were  wholly  dependent  upon  each  other  for  society.  The 
mails,  brought  by  clog  trains,  once  a  fortnight,  through  a 
trackless  wilderness  of  three  hundred  miles,  afforded  the  only 
intelligence  of  what  was  transpiring  in  the  outer  world. 
These  mails  were  eagerly  looked  for,  but  they  were  uncertain 
and  disappointing.  The  mail-carrier,  if  he  found  his  dogs 
overloaded  en  route,  had  a  facile  way  of  easing  them;  he  sim- 
ply had  to  hang  a  bag  or  bags  of  mail  matter  upon  a  tree  and 
leave  them,  in  most  cases,  to  winter.  Unfortunate,  indeed, 


26  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

was  the  person  whose  letters  happened  to  be  in  the  suspended 
mail  bags.  During  a  period  of  seven  months  the  writer  of 
this  did  not  draw  one  prize  in  the  mail  lottery,  but  in  the 
month  of  June  he  received,  at  least,  half  a  bushel  of  letters. 
The  mine  locations  were  few  and  far  between,  but  there  was 
much  visiting,  locomotion  being  performed  on  snow-shoes. 
Hospitality  was  unlimited,  unbounded;  when  you  came  you 
were  welcomed  with  open  arms — when  you  went  awjiy,  your 
departure  was  a  matter  of  regret.  The  best  that  a  limited 
larder  could  supply  was  spread  before  you — pork,  beans  and 
bread — take  your  choice.  A  joint  of  fresh  beef  was  the 
choicest  of  luxuries,  and  could  only  be  had  when  an  over- 
worked ox  gave  out,  and  it  was  required  to  sacrifice  him  upon 
the  altar  of  necessity.  The  visitor  ahvays  carried  his  blankets 
strapped  on  his  back;  the  hospitable  log  cabins  receiving  him 
seldom  had  the  luxury  of  a  spare  bed.  Yet,  with  all  these 
aids  to  social  enjoyment,  the  denizens  of  the  remote  locations 
in  the  forests  found  the  winter  to  "drag  its  slow  length 
along "  rather  wearily.  After  the  close  of  navigation,  for 
weeks  upon  weeks,  there  was  nothing  but  clouded  skies  and 
ceaseless  falling  of  snow;  no  bright  ray  of  sunshine  darted 
through  the  noonday  gloom;  the  days  were  short  and  the 
nights  proportionately  long;  Jack  Frost,  reigning  supremely r 
penetrated  everywhere,  hushing  in  the  silence  the  babbling 
brook  and  flashing  lake,  and  smothered  every  voice  of  nature 
in  a  deep  pall  of  snow;  the  deep  forests,  stripped  of  their 
summer  apparel,  and,  with  the  lesser  growths  buried  out  of 
sight,  presented  a  cold,  bare,  melancholy  picture,  not  at  all 
conducive  to  a  buoyancy  of  spirits.  Often,  after  a  great  snow 
storm  accompanied  with  high  winds,  locomotion,  even  on 
snow-shces,  was  impossible.  In  these  days  of  well-broken 
highways  and  railroads,  and  thick  clustering  towns  and  cities, 
the  northern  regions  washed  by  Lake  Superior  are  robbed  of 
the  terrors  of  the  pioneer  days. 

Copper  Harbor  was  the  great  depot  and  rallying  point  of 
copper  hunters;  here  the  innumerable  exploring  parties  pre- 
pared for  the  woods,  and  hence  departed  in  quest  of  hidden 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  27 

mines  of  copper  and  silver.  The  country  was  penetrated  far 
and  wide  by  these  sanguine  De  Sotos,  and  the  dense  forest 
ransacked  up  and  down.  Probably  at  no  time  while  the 
aborigines  held  sole  possession  of  the  territory,  had  the  woods 
been  so  populous.  Camp  fires  blazed  upon  a  hundred  shores, 
and  the  most  secluded  and  rocky  recesses  awoke  to  the  echoes 
of  shout,  song  and  story.  After  weeks  of  arduous  toil,  coast- 
ing in  small  boats  many  a  league  of  stormy  shore,  pushing 
their  way  through  tangled  underbrush  and  almost  impenetra- 
ble cedar  swamps;  carrying  packs  of  provisions,  tools  and 
blankets  on  their  backs;  fording,  or  rafting  on  streams,  and 
exposed  to  all  the  storms  of  heaven,  tortured  by  mosquitoes, 
black  flies  and  sand  flies,  and  often  suffering  from  thirst  and 
hunger,  worn,  ragged,  unshorn,  tanned  like  Indians,  these 
indomitable  explorers  would  return  to  Copper  Harbor,  and 
pitching  their  tents  in  a  cool  place  by  the  side  of  the  waters, 
indulge  in  a  period  of  rest  and  recreation.  The  '"  Boys." 
were  sometimes  a  little  wild;  but  the  spirit  of  adventure  was 
abroad  and  the  restraints  of  civilization  feeble.  That  same 
unconquerable  spirit  since  those  days  has  led  men  to  sweep 
across  the  continent  without  pause,  no  barrier  preventing 
this  side  of  the  golden  shores  of  the  Pacific.  MaDy  of  our 
earlier  pioneers  were  found  later  among  the  throngs  which, 
with  undaunted  hearts,  climbed  the  far-distant  Sierra  Nevadas 
and  rushed  down  the  opposite  slopes  to  seek  their  fortunes  in 
the  gulches  and  canyons  of  California.  By  some,  fortune  and 
fame  were  secured;  others  only  found  graves  to  cover  broken 
hearts,  while  a  few,  after  years  of  toil  and  hardship,  gravi- 
tated back  to  the  old  camping  grounds  of  Lake  Superior. 
The  excitement  which  began  in  1844,  reached  the  culminat- 
ing point  in  1846.  Delegations  from  the  four  quarters  of  the 
globe  came  to  spy  out  the  land — scientific  men,  capitalists, 
members  of  Congress,  Senators,  Governors,  agents  for  land 
and  mining  corporations,  business  men,  pleasure  seekers,  and, 
a  host  of  young  men  who  had  their  fortunes  to  make.  Many 
of  these  gentlemen  remained  in  the  country,  or  have  been 
identified  with  it  ever  since  and  have  exercised  a  powerful 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


influence  over  its  destinies.  John  N.  Ingersoll,  Esq.,  editor 
and  proprietor,  issued  the  first  copy  of  "  The  Lake  Superior 
News  and  Mining  Journal "  from  the  Astor  House,  Copper 
Harbor,  in  the  summer  of  1846.  The  appearance  of  this 
sheet  produced  a  sensation.  Ingersoll  still  lives  at  Corunna, 
full  of  honors.  The  paper  was  afterwards  removed  to  Sault 
Ste.  Marie,  and  from  thence  to  Marquette,  where  it  is  still 
published  by  the  author  of  this  book. 

The  Copper,  or  Trap  Range,  extending  from  the  extremity 
of  Keweenaw  Point  to  the  Porcupine  Mountains,  is  about 
140  miles  long,  and  has  a  width  varying  from  one  to  six 
miles.  There  is  another  sub-district  within  the  state  of 
Michigan,  known  as  Isle  Royal.  This  whole  territory,  now 
become  famous  throughout  the  civilized  world  under  the 
name  of  the  Copper  Mines  of  Lake  Superior,  was  the  broad 
and  wild  domain  upon  which  our  people  set  themselves  to 
work,  with  indomitable  energy  and  courage,  to  hew  out  a 
new  empire,  and  achieve  fame  and  wealth  as  miners.  Mining 
on  a  grand  scale  was  a  new  occupation  to  the  American  citi- 
zen. He  who  views  the  whole  ground  in  this  year  of  our 
Lord,  1876,  we  think,  cannot  justly  deny  that  our  people 
have  acquitted  themselves  well.  The  earlier  pioneers  had  a 
Herculean  task  to  perform;  a  fact  which  those  who  have  come 
after  should  not  forget. 

Burt's  solar  compass — then  a  recent  invention — was 
highly  appreciated  by  those  who  had  seen  it;  but  its  merits 
were  not  generally  known.  Parties  who  desired  to  locate  on 
unsarveyed  lands,  knowing  the  uncertainty  of  the  magnetic 
needle  in  the  copper  and  iron  regions,  were  perplexed,  and 
wondered  how  they  should  be  able  to  run  straight  lines.  A 
learned  gentleman  at  last  solved  the  question — to  his  own 
satisfaction,  at  least.  Basing  his  theory  upon  the  assumed 
fact  that,  at  a  certain  distance  above  the  earth,  the  local 
attraction  would  cease  to  have  any  effect  upon  the  needle,  he 
proposed  that  a  survej^or  ( he  must  needs  be  the  reverse  of 
corpulent)  should  take  his  compass,  climb  the  highest  tree, 
and  from  the  top  sight  to  some  other  tree  in  the  distance; 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR 


then  come  down,  proceed  to  the  tree  noted,  climb  it  and 
make  another  observation;  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  sur- 
vey. Whether  the  learned  gentleman  ever  obtained  a  leather 
medal  from  any  scientific  society,  has  not  transpired. 

EARLY  NAVIGATION". 

The  American,  British  Northwestern  and  Hudson  Bay  Fur 
companies,  prior  to  the  year  1829,  had  on  Lake  Superior, 
employed  as  traders,  the  following  named  vessels:  Discovery, 
Invincible,  Otter,  Mink  and  the  Recovery.  They  were 
respectably  sized  schooners,  of  from  20  to  100  tons  burthen, 
and  all  built,  it  is  quite  certain,  on  Lake  Superior.  The 
respective  years  of  their  building  are  not  known,  but  as  some 
had  long  been  in  service,  their  construction  would  seem  to 
date  back  very  early  in  the  nineteenth,  if  not  even  to  the 
closing  days  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  Invincible  was 
wrecked  on  White  Fish  Point,  prior  to  the  year  1823,  and  the 
Discovery  lost  in  an  attempt  to  run  the  rapids  in  Sault  Ste. 
Marie  river.  What  became  of  the  Otter  is  not  definitely 
known,  but  in  the  records  of  the  war  of  1812,  there  is  an 
account  of  the  capture  of  a  vessel  above  the  Sault  by  the 
U.  S.  brig  Niagara.  As  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  brig 
to  ascend  or  make  the  passage  of  the  river  at  that  time,  the 
inference  drawn  is,  that  the  capture  was  effected  by  means  of 
boats  sent  out  from  her  for  that  purpose.  This  vessel  was,  in 
all  probability,  the  Otter,  as  all  the  rest  are  accounted  for, 
and  her  known  history  terminated  at  that  time.  Furiher, 
and  what  is  still  more  conclusive,  the  records  above  cited 
state  that  in  the  attempt  to  run  the  prize  over  the  rapids  she 
was  wrecked  and  lost.  The  Mink,  our  informant  states, 
"  laid  her  bones  in  the  bay  on  the  Canadian  side,  just  above  the 
rapids."  The  Recovery  belonged  to  the  British  Northwest- 
ern Company,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812, 
great  fears  were  entertained  for  her  safety.  It  is  stated  as  a 
historical  fact,  that  in  one  of  the  deep,  narrow  bays  on  the 
north-east  end  of  Isle  Royale,  which  was  then  within  British 
jurisdiction,  the  vessel  was  secreted,  and  her  spars  being  taken 
out,  she  was  entirely  covered  over  with  boughs  of  trees  and 


30  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

brush-wood,  and  there  lay  until  the  termination  of  hostilities, 
when  she  was  brought  out  from  her  hiding  place,  and  again 
put  in  commission.  She  remained  on  the  lake  till  1829,  in 
which  year  she  made  a  safe  run  over  the  falls  into  Lake  Huron. 
She  was  a  schooner  of  about  90  tons,  well  built  of  spruce, 
pine  and  tamarack,  and  finely  fitted  and  furnished  in  every 
particular.  She  was  bought  of  the  Hudson  Bay  company 
by  Merwin  £  Giddings,  of  Cleveland,  in  the  same  year  (1829) 
and  taken  to  that  city  by  her  owners,  who  afterwards  sold 
her  to  some  parties  in  Canada,  and  she  ended  her  days  on  the 
lower  lakes.  It  is  also  known  that  Bayfield,  in  the  years 
1822-23,  used  a  small  vessel  of  about  20  tons,  while  engaged 
in  making  a  survey  of  Lake  Superior.  The  vessel  used  by 
him,  however,  may  have  been  the  Mink,  furnished  by  the 
Hudson  Bay  company. 

From  the  year,  1829  to  1835,  there  was  a  lapse  in  the  navi- 
gation of  Lake  Superior,  during  which  no  vessels  of  any  con- 
siderable size  were  known  to  be  upon  her  waters — only  the 
common  batteaux  and  canoes  in  use  by  the  Indians,  French, 
and  traders  of  that  early  da}*. 

In  the  year  1835,  George  W.  Jones,  of  Cleveland,  con- 
structed above  the  Sault,  for  the  American  Fur  company, 
the  John  Jacob  Astor.  a  schooner  of  113  tons.  In  August  of 
that  year  she  was  fitted  out  and  made  her  first  voyage,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Charles  C.  Stanard,  with  the  following 
officers:  John  Webster,  first  mate;  John  J.  Stanard,  second 
mate;  and  Capt.  John  McCargo,  pilot.  Capt.  C.  C.  Stanard 
sailed  the  Astor  until  the  close  of  navigation  on  Lake 
Superior  in  the  fall  of  1S42. 

In  1843,  Capt.  B.  A.  Stanard  took  command  of  the  Astor, 
and  sailed  her  during  the  seasons  of  1843  and  1844.  She 
was  wrecked  at  Copper  Harbor  while  under  his  command, 
Sept.  20,  1844.  i¥  Stanard's  Rock,'1  an  almost  indiscernible 
projection,  lying  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  water,  and 
extremely  dangerous  for  vessels,  was  discovered  by  Capt.  C. 
C.  Stanard  in  August,  1835,  while  on  his  first  trip  up  the 
lake  in  command  of  the  Astor.  Its  location  was  determined 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


as  nearly  as  possible  with  the  instruments  then  at  hand, 
which  consisted  merely  of  a  common  mariner's  compass  and 
a  u  chip  log  and  line,"  by  Mr.  B.  A.  Stanard,  in  the  summer 
of  1844.  This  opportune  discovery,  no  doubt,  has  been  of 
great  advantage  in  perfecting  reliable  marine  charts  of  the 
coast,  and  preventing  disasters  to  shipping. 

The  schooner  William  Brewster,  75  tons,  was  built  for  the 
American  Fur  company  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie  in  1838,  and  was 
sailed  by  Capt.  John  Wood  until  the  fall  of  1841,  when  she 
was  laid  up  in  ordinary  at  La  Pointe.  She  was  again  fitted 
out  in  the  summer  of  1842  by  Capt.  B.  A.  Stanard,  brought 
down  to  Sault  Ste.  Marie  and  run  over  the  rapids.  From 
thence  she  was  taken  to  Detroit,  and  ended  her  days  on  the 
lower  lakes. 

The  schooner  Algonquin,  50  tons,  was  built  at  Black 
River,  Loraine  county,  Ohio,  by  Capt.  Gr.  W.  Jones,  in  the 
summer  of  1839.  She  was  owned  by  the  firm  of  Converse  & 
Mendenhall,  and  was  taken  to  the  Sault  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,  hauled  over  the  portage  and  made  ready  for  navigation 
of  the  lake  in  the  spring  of  1840.  She  was  commanded  first 
by  Capt.  Rockwood,  and  subsequently  by  Capts.  Goldsmith, 
Smith  wick  and  McKay. 

In  1839,  the  American  Fur  company  built  a  small 
schooner  of  from  15  to  20  tons  at  La  Pointe,  called  the  Made- 
line, for  the  purpose  of  collecting  fish  from  their  stations 
along  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  and  upon  Isle  Royale, 
and  bringing  them  to  La  Pointe  for  shipment  to  the  Sault. 
She  was  under,  the  command  of  Capt.  John  Angus,  and  was 
lost  nt  Isle  Royale  the  same  year.  The  schooner  Siskiwit,  of 
about  40  tons,  was  built  by  the  same  company  soon  after  at 
La  Pointe,  to  supply  the  place  of  the  Madeline,  and  sailed 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  John  Angus.  She  went  ashore 
at  Isle  Royale  in  1841  or  1842,  but  was  subsequently  gotten 
off  and  repaired  by  Capt.  John  J.  Stanard,  and  laid  up  in 
ordinary  at  La  Pointe;  but  she  was  again  fitted  out  in  1845, 
and  navigated  the  lake  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  that 
year,  under  command  of  Capt.  B.  A.  Stanard.  She  was  laid 


32  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

up  on   the  close  of  navigation,  at  the  Sault,  and  her  after 
career  is  not  known. 

The  Canadian  schooner  Whitefish,  about  40  tons,  was- 
built  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Fur  company  at  the  Sault,  in  1838, 
and  was  sailed  by  Capt.  Lamphen.  She  was  still  in  service 
up  to  a  very  late  date,  but  it  is  hardly  probable  that  anything- 
remains  of  her  at  present. 

In  1845  the  following  named  vessels  were  hauled  over  the 
portage  at  the  Sault,  and  made  their  appearance  on  Lake 
Superior:  schooner  Chippewa,  20  tons,  Capt.  Thomas  Clark, 
master  and  owner;  schooner  Florence,  20  tons,  hauled  over 
the  Portage  on  the  Canadian  side  by  Antrim  &  Keith,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  David  Keith;  schooner  Swallow,  80  tons, 
was  hauled  over  on  the  American  side  and  tried  her  fortunes 
on  the  lake,  under  command  of  Capt.  Smith  wick;  schooner 
Merchant,  80  to  90  tons,  was  hauled  over  and  made  her  first 
appearance  on  the  lake  under  command  of  Capt.  Moore.  The 
Merchant  was  lost  in  1846  or  1847,  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Robert  Brown,  with  all  hands  on  board,  and  no  vestige, 
of  her  was  ever  found.  Next  in  order  came  the  schooner 
Uncle  Tom,  (Mrs.  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe's)90  tons,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  John  Angus.  She,  like  the  others,  failed 
to  make  the  anticipated  fortunes  of  her  owners,  and  was  sub- 
sequently run  over  the  rapids,  and  ended  her  days  on  the 
lower  lakes.  The  schooner  Fur  Trader,  about  60  tons,  made 
her  appearance  the  same  year  (1845)  under  command  of  Capt. 
Calvin  Ripley,  master  and  owner.  The  propeller  Inde- 
pendence, Capt.  P.  Averill,  was  hauled  over  in  the  summer  of 
1845.  and  made  one  trip  during  the  fall,  to  La  Pointe.  She 
returned  to  the  Sault  and  was  laid  up  for  the  winter.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1845,  the  schooner  Napoleon  was  built  at 
the  Sault,  and  commenced  the  navigation  of  the  lake  under 
command  of  Capt.  John  Stewart.  The  Napoleon  was  over- 
hauled in  1849,  and  changed  to  a  propeller.  She  continued 
running  on  the  lake  until  the  completion  of  the  St.  Mary's 
Falls  ship  canal,  when  she  was  taken  to  the  St.  Clair  Flats 
and  used  as  a  tow  boat  until  taken  out  of  service.  In  the  fall 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  33 

of  1845,  the  steamer  Julia  Palmer,  240  tons,  was  brought  to 
the  Sault  and  laid  up  for  the  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1846, 
she  was  drawn  over  the  portage,  and  during  the  season  was 
under  command  of  Capt.  John  J.  Stanard.  She  was  laid  up 
in  the  fall,  and  thus  ended  her  career,  except,  perhaps,  that 
she  was  subsequently  towed  to  Waiska  Bay,  and  there  con- 
verted into  the  foundation  for  a  wood  dock.  Subsequent  to 
1846,  the  schooner  Ford,  Capt.  Parker,  steamer  Sam  Ward 
(master  unknown)  and  propeller  Manhattan,  Capt.  J.  Spauld- 
ing,  were  hauled  over  the  portage  and  successfully  navigated 
the  lake  until  the  .finishing  and  opening  of  the  St.  Mary's 
Falls  ship  canal. 

In  1846,  the  steamer  Julia  Palmer — an  old-fashioned, 
turtle-shaped  side- wheeler — was  the  popular  vessel  in  the 
Lake  Superior  fleet.  The  propeller,  Independence,  was  her 
only  steam  competitor  for  the  public  favor.  In  caLm  weather, 
with  a  full  head  of  steam,  the  Independence  could  make  four 
miles  an  hour,  easily.  She  was  finally  destroyed  at  the  Sault, 
by  the  accidental  explosion  of  her  boiler.  The  Julia  Palmer 
was  a  staunch  sea  boat;  she  had  been  tried  severely  on  Lake 
Erie,  and  was  destined  to  still  severer  trials  on  the  great 
northern  lakes.  Late  in  the  fall,  deeply  laden  with  freight 
and  passengers,  she  sailed  from  the  Sault  for  Copper  Harbor. 
Before  she  could  reach  her  destined  harbor  one  of  those  fierce, 
westerly  gales,  accompanied  with  snow,  common  to  Lake 
Superior  in  the  fall,  struck  her.  Bravely  did  she  buffet  the 
winds  and  waves,  but  she  could  not  make  head  against  them  ; 
she  drifted  off  into  the  middle  of  the  lake,  and  then  her  fuel 
gave  out;  she  fell  into  the  trough  of  the  sea  and  was  at  the 
mercy  of  the  elements;  consternation  fell  upon  all  on  board; 
the  waves  dashed  over  and  through  her;  ice  accumulated 
rapidly;  the  sick  passengers  were  hurled  from  side  to  side  of 
the  cabin;  she  sprung  a  leak;  the  pumps  were  started;  the 
freight  was  thrown  overboard;  but  the  water  gained  on  the 
pumps,  and  the  passengers  were  compelled,  all  through  a 
dark,  stormy  night,  to  bail  with  buckets,  or  anything  else 
that  would  hold  water.  By  the  most  strenuous  exertions  they 


34  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

kept  her  afloat,  for  thirty-six  hours  the  boat  drifted  help- 
lessly; at  last,  as  if  guided  by  a  Providential  hand,  she  drifted 
into  a  snug,  rock-bound  harbor  in  an  island  on  the  north-east 
shore  of  the  lake,  in  Canada.  The  anchor  was  dropped,  and 
a  period  of  rest  and  respite  was  granted.  But  the  question 
was  soon  propounded:  How  are  we  to  get  away  from  this 
desolate  coast,  without  sail  or  fuel?  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  what  was  to  be  done  must  be  done  quickly.  The  crew 
and  passengers  were  armed  with  axes,  (fortunately  there  was 
a  supply  on  board  intended  for  the  mines,)  and  sent  ashore 
to  cut  wood.  After  hard  work,  sufficient  fuel  was  provided 
to  run  the  boat  to  Copper  Harbor;  the  anchor  was  tripped, 
and  in  a  few  hours  the  exhausted  and  happy  passengers 
reached  the  desired  haven.  Ever  after  they  entertained  a 
wholesome  fear  of  the  great  lake  when  aroused  by  the  ter- 
rific, snow-laden  gales  of  November. 

THE   FIRST   WORKING   COMPANIES, 

organized  for  the  mining  of  copper,  silver,  and  iron,  were 
managed  by  boards  of  Trustees ;  were  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  different  States,  and  issued  such  numbers  of  shares  or 
stock  certificates,  as  suited  the  convenience  of  each  individual 
set  of  incorporators.  One  company,  for  example,  issued  1200 
shares,  par  value  one  hundred  dollars;  another  3000  shares, 
par  value  ten  dollars.  The  largest  number  of  shares  that  we 
can  remember  was  6000.  It  was  not  until  some  years  later, 
that  the  state  of  Michigan  enacted  the  wise  and  salutary 
general  mining  laws  now  on  the  statute-books,  fixing  the 
number  of  shares  of  each  organization  at  20,000,  with  par 
value  of  $25  per  share.  These  laws  were  afterwards  amended 
so  as  to  permit  actual  working  companies  to  consolidate,  and 
thereby  virtually  increase  the  number  of  shares.  More 
recently,  the  law  was  so  amended  as  to  permit  the  organiza- 
tion of  mining  companies  upon  a  basis  of  $2,500,000,  divided 
into  shares  of  the  par  value  of  $25  each.  They  are  also  per- 
.mitted  to  acquire  and  hold  50,000  acres  of  land,  instead  of 
being  limited  to  10,000  acres,  as  formerly.  . 

The  practical  miner,  whether  of  American  birth  or  foreign 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  35 

extraction,  at  the  very  outset  of  his  work  found  a  new  and 
marked  feature  in  the  veins  which  were  to  be  subject  to 
exploitation.  Native  copper,  in  a  chemically  pure  state,  in 
large  masses,  and  in  great  quantity,  was  an  anomaly.  The 
celebrated  copper  mines  of  Cornwall,  Germany,  and  Chili — 
the  chief  sources  of  copner  supply  for  the  world,  so  far — 
produced  only  the  ores  of  copper,  sulphurets,  and  oxides.  It  will 
be  seen,  moreover,  that  the  difficulty  which  arose,  incidental 
to  the  mining,  dividing  into  convenient  forms  for  handling 
and  smelting,  was  new  and  perplexing.  But  the  skill  of  the 
Cornish  miners,  and  the  philosophic  minds  of  such  men  as 
John  R.  Grout,  Esq.,  finally  overcame  all  obstacles. 

For  several  years  after  mining  had  become  a  regular  busi- 
ness and  while  explorations  for  new  veins  continued,  nothing 
was  considered  of  any  practical  worth  except  true,  or  fissure 
veins.  Such  was  the  impress  made  by  books;  such  were  the 
ideas  imported  from  Europe  by  alien  miners;  (and  the  first 
valuable  discovery  of  copper  in  place,  in  fissure  veins,  con- 
firming the  whole,)  it  was  not  strange  that  men  should  believe 
in  nothing  else.  This  mistaken  notion  caused  much  blind 
groping  for  years,  great  waste  of  means,  and  the  abandon- 
ment of  many  valuable  properties,  and  a  persistence  in  the 
working  of  others  utterly  worthless,  because  of  the  existence 
thereon  of  thin  seams  filled  with  chlorite,  serpentine  or  spar. 
The  great  and  famous  contact  vein  which  was  the  basis  of 
the  Minnesota  mine;  the  lodes  containing  mass  and  stamp 
copper,  like  the  Pewabic,  and  the  conglomerate  belts,  all  run- 
ning with  the  formation,  (and  not  across  it  like  fissure  veins,) 
such  as  the  mammoth  Calumet  and  Hecla  consolidated  com- 
pany is  working  upon,  subsequently  corrected  the  ideas 
erroneously  entertained  as  to  the  mineral  sources  of  the 
country. 

We  will  now,  beginning  in  point  of  time  with  the  year 
1846,  pass  in  hasty  review  the  working  mines  of  note — 
making  mention  of  the  men  and  managers  of  the  time,  so 
far  as  we  may  be  able  to  do  so — then  give  a  brief  account  of 
new  discoveries  and  developments,  on  the  Trap  Range,  and 


36  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

Isle  Roy  ale;  trace  the  growth  of  new  districts  and  villages, 
with  mention  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  country  down  to 
the  present  time. 

In  the  year  above  mentioned  a  mine  had  been  opened  by 
the  Pittsburgh,  Boston  and  Copper  Harbor  Company,  on  a 
fissure  vein  a  few  rods  east  of  Fort  Wilkins;  several  tons, 
perhaps  40,  of  black  oxide  of  copper  had  been  raised  from  the 
shafts  and  cuts.  But  the  mine  was  speedily  abandoned,  and 
the  miners  and  appliances  had  been  transferred  to  another 
location,  owned  by  the  Company,  tying  a  few  miles  south- 
west of  Eagle  river,  whereon  a  wonderfully  rich  vein  of  mass 
copper  had  been  discovered — since  known  as  the  Cliff  mine. 

West  of  Copper  Harbor  was  a  mine  which  we  mention  to 
bring  out  the  fact  that  one  George  N.  Saunders,  the  notori- 
ous rebel  sympathizer  and  wire-puller  during  the  late  war, 
was  the  superintendent  thereof.  There  was  another  mining 
company  operating  near  the  Harbor — the  Isle  Royale — of 
which  Mr.  Cyrus  Mendeiihall  was  superintendent. 

BOHEMIAN"  AND  LAC  LA  BELLE  COMPANIES. 

These  two  companies  were  operating  on  locations  situated 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Range  near  Lac  La  Belle.  The 
mining  was  confined  to  small  fissure  veins,  charged  with 
yellow  and  gray  sulphuret  ores.  Mr.  Simon  Mandlebaum  was 
the  superintendent  of  £he  former,  and  Major  Alexander  H. 
Sibley  of  the  latter,  In  their  log  cabins  by  the  beautiful 
lake,  these  gentlemen  dispensed  a  princely  hospitality  to  all 
comers.  They  have  been  largely  interested  in  copper  and 
silver  mines  from  that  day  to  this,  and  have  done  very  much 
to  aid  in  the  development  of  the  country.  Work  on  these 
mines  was  suspended  in  1847,  to  be  resumed  again  about  the 
year  1864-'5.  at  which  time,  a  village  on  the  immediate  lake 
shore  was  begun,  smelting  works  erected,  the  Harbor  opened 
to  large  class  vessels,  aided  by  an  appropriation  from  the  gen- 
eral government  of  100,000  acres  of  land,  and  a  good  wagon 
road  built  out  to  the  other  mines.  A  few  years  later  the  work 
was  suspended,  the  attention  of  the  proprietors  being  engaged 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  37 


hy  the  rich  discovery  of  Silver  Islet  on  the  north  shore.     Mr. 
A.  C.  Bishop  was  the  last  superintendent. 

From  the  Indian  trail  leading  from  Copper  Harbor  to  Eagle 
Harbor  and  Eagle  river,  one  had  access  to  several  locations — 
small  clearings  in  the  woods — whereon  mining,  in  its  incipi- 
ent stages,  was  being  conducted.  The  Messrs.  Bernard  were 
in  charge  of  a  party  near  Copper  Harbor  on  the  west.  At 
Agate  Harbor,  the  New  York  and  Lake  Superior  Company 
was  operating.  Mr.  Edward  Learned  was  president  of  this 
company,  and  Mr.  C.  G.  Learned  was  superintendent.  The 
Northwest  Company  were  mining  in  the  bluff  back  of  Grand 
Marais  Harbor.  Mr.  Bailey,  now  one  of  the  patriarchs  of 
Keweenaw  county,  was  first  in  charge.  Horace  Greeley  was  a 
trustee.  Mr.  Stoughtenburgh,  the  tall  New  Yorker,  was,  a 
little  later,  the  superintendent.  Quite  a  handsome  show  of 
small  mass  copper  was  discovered  in  the  open  cut,  at  the 
mine.  This  mine  has  never  risen  into  importance. 

EAGLE  HAKBOE. 

The  Eagle  Harbor  Company  were  working  quite  a  large 
force  of  miners.  The  harbor  is  a  natural  one  and  convenient 
of  access;  there  were  several  good  buildings  at  the  west  end 
of  the  bay,  nestling  among  the  pines.  The  mine  is  near  the 
village  and  lake  shore  ;  it  was  one  of  the  most  promising  yet 
opened.  A  mass  was  in  sight,  which  was  estimated  to  weigh 
75  ton-,  almost  pure  native  copper.  The  vein  projects  under 
the  lake;  from  a  boat,  out  in  deep  water  a  mass  of  copper 
could  be  seen  protruding  from  the  rock  bottom.  (Query!  is 
this  the  mass  Father  Allouezsaw?)  Subsequent  workings  in 
this  mine  did  not  justify  early  promise.  At  this  day  the 
Eagle  Harbor  location — a  nine-mile  tract — is  considered  a 
valuable  undeveloped  property. 

Copper  Falls  Company,  location  situated  west  of  Eagle 
Harbor,  had  Mr.  Joshua  Childs  as  its  superintendent.  It  is 
one  of  the  oldest  mines  on  the  lake,  and  is  now  operating. 
In  1846,  it  was  in  a  flourishing  condition.  They  were  work- 
ing on  a  fissure  vein  (Owl  creek?);  in  an  open  cut,  near  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  a  handsome  mass  of  native  copper, 


38  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

several  yards  long,  was  exposed.  There  was  no  machinery 
available  to  enable  the  miners  to  hoist  it  out;  Mr.  Childs  was 
puzzled  to  know  how  to  remove  it,  or  cut  it  into  convenient 
pieces  for  removal.  A  saw  was  tried,  but  did  not  answer  the 
purpose.  Copper  Falls  mine  has  been  worked  for  30  years 
with  varied  success,  but  we  believe  has  never  QUITE  been, 
recorded  among  dividend  paying  mines.  It  has  been  a  source 
of  wealth  to  individuals.  The  operations  have  been  upon 
the  fissure  vein  and  the  u  Ash  Bed,"  a  lode  producing  only 
shot  and  fine  copper — stamp  work.  Ball's  celebrated  steam 
stamps  and  washers  were  first  introduced  here.  During 
its  long  career,  Copper  Falls  mine  has  been  under  the  man- 
agement of  several  able  men,  namely:  Messrs.  Childs, 
Petherick,  the  man  of  figures,  Hon.  Sam'l  W.  Hill,  A.  P. 
Thomas  and  Mr.  Emerson.  When  quite  a  lad,  Mr.  John 
Simpkins  was  clerk  at  this  mine;  this  gentleman  became  an 
influential,  wealthy  copper  broker,  and  was  director  in  several 
successful  mining  enterprises. 

Northwestern  Company.  —  Working  on  a  location  lying 
south-east  of  Eagle  river.  The  mass  vein  showed  consider- 
able mass  copper.  Mr.  Jacob  Ho  ugh  ton  was  superintendent. 

Lake  Superior  Company.  —  This  is  the  pioneer  company 
of  the  region:  location  situated  1-J  miles  south  of  Eagle  river. 
Mr.  C.  C.  Douglass  is  superintendent.  There  were  about  20 
buildings  on  the  location.  Seventy  men  were  at  work.  Sev- 
eral shafts  had  been  sunk  on  the  vein  to  a  depth  of  125  to  150 
feet.  A  horse-whim  was  used  to  hoist  water  and  mineral  from 
the  mine.  The  ore  raised  from  the  mine  was  valued,  to  wit- 

u  A  ton  of  ore,  delivered  in  Boston,  yielded  as  follows:  — 
Of  Silver,  $568;  of  Copper,  $200— DR.  JACKSON." 

This  is  truly  a  wonderful  mine !  It  was  stated  that  the 
Shares  had  sold  for  $1200  each.  Whole  number  of  Shares, 
1200.  This  mine  had  in  operation  a  small  stamp-mill  and  a 
saw-mill,  run  by  water-power,  the  first  concerns  of  the  kind, 
erected  by  a  mining  company,  in  the  country.  In  1847,  Mr. 
Corry)!  succeeded  Mr.  Douglass  as  Sup't.  In  after  years 
this  company  took  a  new  name,  the  Phoenix.  It  is  an  active 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  39 


and  productive  mine  at  this  day  —  but  the  main  work  is  now 
on  a  fissure  vein  under  the  greenstone. 

Eagle  River.  —  On  the  sand  hills,  near  the  lake,  and  bhe 
mouth  of  a  small  stream  into  which  it  is  hard  work  to  force 
a  small  boat,  is  a  cluster  of  rude  cabins  —  dwellings,  stores, 
and  shops  —  this  is  Eagle  River.  Deacon  Johnson,  after- 
wards long-time  resident  at  Ontonagon,  kept  a  good  hotel  in 
his  log  cabin.  Enterprising  Uncle  John  Atwood,  in  1847, 
built  a  large  frame  warehouse  on  the  lake  shore.  This  hale, 
hearty  old  pioneer  is  still  ready  with  a  smile  and  warm  shake 
of  the  hand  to  welcome  his  friends  at  I/Anse,  where  he  now 
abides.  In  his  sphere,  he  has  done  well  in  the  building  up  of 
the  country.  Phil.  Morrison  was  a  resident  of  Eagle  River. 
Mr.  John  Senter  has  resided  there  from  very  early  times,  and 
has  been  largely  instrumental  in  promoting  the  prosperity 
and  advancement  of  Keweenaw.  James  Crawford,  a  well- 
known  character,  Dr.  Alexander,  Porter  Hitchcock,  the 
Leopolds  and  Austrians,  and  Col.  Wright  were  also  residents 
of  the  village.  Eagle  River  is  the  port  through  which  the 
mines  of  that  vicinity  have  received  their  supplies  and  ex- 
ported their  mine  products.  The  Cliff  mine  has  maintained 
a  dock  and  warehouse  there.  The  village  became  a  lively 
business  centre. 

The  Pittsburgh  and  Boston  Company. — This  company  had 
been  operating  at  this  point  about  two  years;  quite  a  con- 
anine  mile  tract;  the  works  upon  it  were  situated  about  five 
miles  southwest  of  Eagle  River.  It  had  opened  a  grand 
fissure  vein,  under  some  high,  picturesque  chfts,  which  was 
wonderfully  rich  in  native  copper  and  silver.  They  had 
siderable  log  village  clustered  in  the  clearing,  under  the 
shadow  of  the  cliffs.  Messrs.  Hussey;  Avery,  Howe,  Petit 
and  Scudder — household  names  in  the  copper  region — were 
trustees.  Dr.  Petit  was  the  superintendent  for  a  brief  period. 
He  will  be  vividly  remembered  by  all  old  settlers.  Mr.  John 
Hays  was  another  active  gentleman  connected  with  the 
Cliff  and  many  other  enterprises.  Capt.  Jennings  was  one 
of  the  earliest  superintendents  of  the  Cliff.  There  were 


40  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

others  holding  the  same  position  whose  names  cannot  be 
recalled.  Mr.  John  Siawson  occupied  the  position  ably  for 
many  years.  During  its  prosperous  days  the  "Old  Cuff" 
divided  to  its  stockholders  $2,280,000.  Drs.  Senter  and  Hea- 
ton  were  the  distinguished  resident  physicians  and  surgeons 
at  the  mine  for  a  long  period.  Hon.  E.  J.  Hulbert  was  the 
mine  engineer  who  engineered  the  famous  perpendicular 
snaft  down  through  the  greenstone.  Capt.  John  Gundry, 
Capt.  George,  Capt.  Carnsew  and  Capt.  Benetts,  were  able 
underground  men.  Mr.  Augustus  Coburn,  afterward  an 
influential  citizen  of  Ontonagon,  passed  the  winter  of  1846-'7 
at  the  Cliff  mine.  A  few  years  ago  the  old  company  sus- 
pended work,  and  let  the  mine  fill  with  water.  The  whole 
property  was  subsequently  purchased  by  a  gentleman  resi- 
dent in  Boston  for  $100,000,  and  Mr.  Farwell,  long  well 
known  as  the  able  manager  of  the  Pncenix  mine,  was  placed 
in  charge.  He,  with  his  characteristic  energy,  started  the 
pumps,  removed  the  water,  resumed  mining,  and,  to-day, 
may  congratulate  himself  that  the  good  old  mine  has  again 
arrived  at  almost  a  dividend  paying  point.  All  honor  to 
him!  The  "Old  Cliff"  is  truly  a  historical  mine.  During 
the  dark  days  that  followed  the  excitement  of  1846,  and  dur- 
ing other  da'/k  days,  which  from  time  to  time  fell  upon  the 
copper  region — the  "Cliff''  was  a  sure  and  steadfast  reminder 
that  copper  mining  could  be  made  profitable  in  the  upper 
peninsula.  It  was  always  a  strong,  moral  force — encourag- 
ing new  hopes  and  enterprises. 

Dr.  Avery  was  a  wealthy  Methodist  clergyman,  and 
resided  in  Pittsburgh.  He  was  associated  with  Dr.  Hussey, 
James  M.  Cooper,  Thomas  M.  Howe,  and  some  Boston 
gentlemen,  as  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Pittsburgh 
and  Boston  company.  Several  assessments  had  been  levied 
and  paid;  another  was  called  for  or  talked  of.  Considerable 
copper  had  been  mined  and  shipped,  but  the  cost  of  mine 
improvements,  purchase  of  machinery,  etc.,  had  absorbed 
all  the  earnings,  and  more  with  it.  The  Boston  stockhold- 
ers were  dissatisfied,  and  refused  to  contribute  anything  more 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  41 

in  the  way  of  assessments,  and  there  was  every  prospect  that 
the  mine  would  have  to  be  abandoned.  At  this  juncture, 
Dr.  Avery  stepped  forward,  made  a  thorough  examination  of 
the  mine,  and  called  a  meeting  of  the  board  for  consultation. 
At  this  meeting  the  doctor  expressed  his  unwillingness  to 
abandon  the  mine,  and,  "  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  I  have  lying 
in  the  bank  just  $83,000,  eighty  thousand  of  which  is  at 
your  disposal,  if  you  will  use  it  to  continue  the  work,  and 
give  me  a  mortgage  on  the  mine  property  as  security.1' 
The  offer  was  accepted;  work  was  continued,  and  in  less  than 
eighteen  months  the  money  was  repaid  from  the  earnings  of 
the  mine,  and  a  goodly  surplus  divided  among  the  share- 
holders. But  for  this  action  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Avery,  the 
mine  would  have  been  abandoned,  and  the  development  of 
the  copper  interest  delayed  for  years.  In  the  dark  days  the 
old  Cliff  stood  as  a  beacon  light  to  the  despondent  operators 
throughout  the  district;  its  failure  would  have  been  followed 
by  a  general  collapse,  and  the  mineral  wealth  of  Lake 
Superior  would  have  been  everywhere  regarded  but  as  a 
punctured  bubble. 

North  American  Company. — This  company  was  operating 
just  west  of  the  Cliff  on  a  fissure  vein.  Gurdon  Williams 
and  Henry  J.  Buckley,  of  Detroit,  were,  respectively,  President 
and  Secretary  of  this  company, — well  known  Michigan  men. 
Honest  John  Bacon  was  the  superintendent.  This  company 
had  made  quite  a  start  in  the  woods,  but  were  exploring, 
rather  than  mining.  In  the  winter  of  1846-'7,  Judge  Bacon 
struck  quite  a  large  mass  of  clean  copper  in  the  vein  or  adit. 
He  was  so  much  elated  that  he,  in  hot  haste,  mounted  his 
snow-shoes  and  started  for  Detroit, — to  buy  more  stock. 
Think  of  this  heavy,  corpulent  man  tramping  300  miles 
through  an  unbroken  wilderness  to  Green  Bay,  in  mid-win- 
ter,— a  journey  that  required  from  four  to  six  weeks  hard 
work  !  Before  the  Judge  reached  Detroit,  the  mass  came  to 
an  end,  or  in  the  elegant  language  of  the  country, — Petered. 
The  North  American  has  had  a  varied  career,  but  it  has 
never  reached  a  point  of  success.  Captain  Joseph  Paull  was, 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


at  one  time,  the   superintendent.     The  property  was  after- 
wards sold  to  the  Pittsburgh  and  Boston  company. 

The  Albion  Company. — This  company  held  several  loca- 
tions. Two  or  three  miles  west  of  the  Cliff  we  found  active 
operations  going  on  under  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Stevens,  the  u  Pro- 
fessor." Mr.  Stevens  is  well  known  in  the  copper  region  as 
an  active,  energetic  man,  a  mine  manager  and  stock  operator 
of  shrewdness,  whose  footsteps  may  be  traced  from  the 
extremity  of  Keweenaw  Point  to  the  region  beyond  the 
Ontonagon.  The  company  was  testing  fissure  veins,  and 
hunting  for  more  under  the  greenstone  cliffs.  Several  snug- 
log  houses  had  been  erected,  and  quite  a  large  number  of 
miners  were  at  work.  Tom  Taylor  was  clerk — a  man  of  great 
parts.  Later,  Mr.  Rickard  and  Captain  Richard  Edwards 
tried  their  hands  at  this  mine.  They  also  superintended  a 
branch  mine  of  same  name,  situated  near  the  village  of 
Houghton;  this  location  subsequently  became  the  Columbian, 
then,  by  consolidation,  the  Shelden  and  Columbian.  The  old 
Albion  finally  took  the  new  name  of  Manhattan,  and  is  quiet 
at  this  time.  Captain  Rickard  was  at  one  time  superintend- 
ent of  the  Isle  Royale  mine,  Portage  Lake.  He  came  to  the 
lake  in  June,  1850,  and  remained  at  the  Albion  until  the 
latter  part  of  January,  1851.  In  February,  1851,  he  pre- 
empted the  south-east  quarter  of  section  10,  Town  57,  Range 
32 — the  first  pre-emption  made  in  the  upper  peninsula.  The 
land  office  was  then  located  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  leaving 
Eagle  river  sometime  in  March,  he  reached  the  Sault  on  the 
12th  of  April,  being  the  first  to  file  pre-emption  papers  with 
Register  Backus — a  fact  shown  by  the  records.  He  retired 
from  the  country  in  1858,  and  settled  in  New  York  city.  But 
he  has  always  taken  a  warm  interest  in  this  upper  country,  in 
which  he  owns  large  interests.  He  is  a  gentleman  much 
respected  for  his  ability  and  integrity. 

Captain  Edwards  removed  with  his  family  at  an  earl}r  day 
(1853)  to  Portage  Lake,  and  settled  in  the  now  village  of 
Houghtoti.  Having  acquired  considerable  wealth,  he  died  in 
the  year  1868,  lamented  by  the  whole  community.  He  was 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  43 


a  gentleman  of  much  shrewdness  and  sagacity,  high-toned, 
and  possessed  of  great  amiability  of  character.  He  was  a 
good  citizen,  and  those  who  knew  him  best  loved  him  most. 

Fulton  Company. — Working  on  a  location  a  few  miles 
south-west  of  the  Albion.  A  few  log  cabins  had  been  erected 
and  a  few  miners  were  at  work  on  a  thin  fissure  vein,  showing 
some  native  copper,  found  in  a  low  knob  of  trap.  Mr.  Ken- 
nedy, of  New  York  city,  a  sanguine,  whole-souled  gentleman, 
was  the  superintendent. 

Ohio  Trap  Rock  Company. — Working  on  a  location  on 
headwaters  of  Trap  Rock  river,  south-west  of  Fulton;  sink- 
ing a  shaft  on  a  vein  of  serpentine;  no  copper.  McGritfin, 
superintendent. 

New  York  &  Michigan  Company. — This  company  own  16 
locations,  one  of  which  was  an  iron  ore  bed.  Messrs.  John 
R.  Grout  and  C.  C.  Douglass,  general  agents.  Mining  for 
copper  at  junction  of  trap  and  sand-rock  with  8  men;  found 
considerable  fine  copper  —  stamp  work.  John  H.  Forster, 
superintendent.  This  property  is  now  called  St.  Louis. 

Douglass  Houyhton  Company.  —  Mining  by  driving  an 
adit  under  the  falls,  on  a  branch  of  Trap  Rock  river,  about 
two  miles  from  Torch  Lake  and  Calumet  stamps.  Some  fine 
copper  exposed.  Lavalette  Douglass  in  charge. 

Portage  Lake.— A.  party  belonging  to  a  Pittsburgh  com- 
pany spent  the  winter  of  1846-'T  in  a  rude  hut  on  Wheal 
Kate  mountain.  There  was  a  small  clearing,  or  boat  land- 
ing, near  the  present  Quincy  Stamps.  Some  exploring 
had  been  done  on  the  hill  side,  below  the  present  Quincy 
mine.  Elsewhere  the  beautiful  wooded  shores  of  Portage 
lake  were  in  a  state  of  nature. 

Mr.  Ransom  Shelden,  the  Father  of  the  Portage  lake  min- 
ing district,  came  to  the  lake  in  the  summer  of  1846,  but  he 
passed  the  winter  at  L'Anse.  He  built  a  large  frame  ware- 
house and  dwelling  at  the  mouth  of  Portage  river  in  1847, 
and  settled  there  with  his  family.  L'A^SE  was  an  old  mis- 
sionary settlement.  On  the  west  side  of  the  bay  the  vener- 
able Father  Baraga,  afterward  bishop  of  Marquette,  resided 


44  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

with  his  Indian  flock — a  good  shepherd  of  the  fold.  On 
the  east  side  was  the  Methodist  mission,  under  the  care  of 
Hev.  Mr.  Pitzel,  a  worthy,  yonng  man.  Then  u  old  man" 
Jackson  was  beating  the  anvil;  then  Maj.  Beedon  taught  the 
natives  civilization,  and  all  the  arts;  Capt.  James  Bendry 
cruised  on  the  lake  during  the  summer  and  ran  a  saw  mill 
during  the  winter. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  October,  1846,  that  we,  for  the 
first  time,  passed  over  Portage  lake.  This  remarkable  sheet 
of  water,  which  fills  a  gorge  cut  boldly  through  the  trap 
range,  where  the  range  is  six  hundred  feet  high,  and  which 
nearly  severed  Keweenaw  Point  from  the  main  land,  the  con- 
necting isthmus  being  only  two  miles  wide,  (since  pierced 
by  the  Portage  Lake  and  Lake  Superior  Ship  Canal — making 
Keweenaw  Point  to-day,  in  fact,  an  island,)  has  been  for 
centuries,  perhaps  ages,  the  highway  of  travelers.  The 
ancient  miners  doubtless  navigated  its  waters,  and  many  a 
peaceful  or  warlike  band  of  savages  have  availed  themselves  of 
this  short-cut  in  their  migrations  or  forays.  This  grand 
portage  saved  a  detour  around  stormy  cape  Keweenaw  of  110 
miles. 

The  scenery  bordering  the  lake  was  exceedingly  beautiful, 
especially  so  at  the  narrows  through  the  highlands,  at  points 
where  Houghton  and  Hancock  now  stand,  and  westward 
and  northward.  Our  cheerful  Canadian  boatmen,  singing  as 
they  rowed,  would  often  rest  upon  their  oars  in  order  to 
enjoy  the  quiet,  brilliant  panorama.  The  native  forests  in 
primitive  grandeur,  starting  at  the  water's  edge,  slope  up 
precipitously  toward  the  sky,  presenting  a  great  variety  of 
pleasing  shades  and  colors,  from  the  soft  neutral-tinted 
maple,  the  lemon-colored  birch  and  poplar  to  the  dark  green 
of  the  pine,  hemlock  and  fir.  Here  and  there,  there  is«  a  bit 
— a  patch — which  has  been  touched  severely  by  the  first 
frosts  of  autumn;  upon  it  is  a  brave  display  of  scarlet, 
orange  and  gold.  The  mountain  ash,  which  flourishes  in 
this  high  northern  latitude  and  loves  the  water,  is  seen  here 
and  there,  with  its  red  berries  clustering  among  the  green 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  45 


leaves,  and  the  soft  maple,  its  delicate  foliage  blushing  "  rosy 
red  "  more  intensely  than  any  of  its  sisters,  under  the  rude 
assault  of  master  Jack  Frost.  The  surface  of  this  narrow 
lake  is  perfectly  smooth,  and  reflects  back  each  overhanging 
declivity.  The  color  of  the  water  is  that  of  brandy — a  tinge 
acquired  from  the  seepage  from  cedar  swamps  and  beaver 
dams.  An  intense  quietude  pervades  the  scene — the  only 
sound  which  falls  upon  the  ear  is  the  cadence  of  our  oars, 
or  the  echo  of  our  own  voices  coming  back  faintly  from  the 
muffled  wooded  shores.  At  one  or  two  points  only  were  to 
be  seen  "  signs"  of  vandal  man.  A  few  trees  had  been  felled 
and  space  cleared  sufficient  for  a  small  encampment.  And 
this  was  at  a  point  which  is  now  the  busy  mining  and  com- 
mercial centre  of  Portage. 

To-day — 1875 — the  reverse  of  this  picture  is  presented,  and 
a  more  stirring  locality  cannot  be  found  in  the  country. 
The  busy,  picturesquely  situated  villages  of  Houghton  and 
Hancock,  with  their  outlying  suburbs;  the  giant  stamp 
mills,  which  make  the  earth  tremble  with  the  heavy  thud  of 
ponderous  hammers;  the  air  dark  with  smoke,  and  the 
water  discolored  with  rejected  sand  and  slime,  once  beautiful 
crystalizations  of  calcite  and  feldspar;  the  fiery  furnaces  of 
the  copper  smelting  works,  when  the  copper  from  the  mines, 
once  tortured  and  beaten  under  the  stamps,  is  again  subjected 
to  volcanic  heat  that  it  may  become  more  pure  and  fit  for 
use;  the  numerous  manufactories,  with  their  noisy  rattling 
and  banging;  the  fleet  of  steam  and  sail  vessels  that  might 
navigate  the  ocean,  lying  at  the  docks,  where  once  the  bark 
canoe  noiselessly  glided  under  overhanging  forests;  and,  lat- 
est innovation  of  all,  there  goes  rushing  up  the  hill-side  a 
locomotive  with  a  train  of  cars — all  of  these  things,  and  more 
that  could  be  mentioned,  go  to  make  up  a  picture  instinct 
with  life  and  characteristic  of  this  age  of  progress.  And 
while  we  write  it  is  announced  that  the  lake,  60  feet  deep,  has 
been  spanned  by  a  bridge  1,600  feet  long.  The  old  ferry,  like 
the  dog-train,  succumbs  to  progress.  We  trust  that  Mr. 
John  Martin,  the  pioneer  ferryman,  may  reap  new  honors  in 


46  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

some  other  field.  The  time  was  when  John's  old  yawl  boat 
was  gratefully  appreciated,  and  a  quarter  given  "  to  cross  the 
ferry,"  cheerfully. 

Silver  Mountain,  a  conical  trap  knob,  which  arose  out  of  the 
level  plain  some  ten  or  fifteen  miles  west  of  I/Anse,  had  been 
worked  by  a  party  of  miners.  They  drove  an  adit  into  the 
base  of  the  knob  on  a  vein,  but  we  who  visited  the  works 
after  they  were  abandoned  in  the  fall  of  1847,  could  find  not 
a  trace  of  silver.  The  miners  left  two  comfortable  log  houses, 
well  furnished,  to  rot  down.  In  those  days  there  were  men 
called  "wreckers;"  men  who  made  a  business  of  levying 
upon  the  personal  property  left  at  abandoned  mines.  One  of 
these  u  wreckers,"  who  is  still  a  resident  of  Portage  Lake, 
visited  Silver  Mountain  after  it  had  been  abandoned,  built  a 
raft,  and  loaded  upon  it  the  anvil,  bellows,  steel,  etc.,  and  set 
sail  down  the  Sturgeon  river.  Ten  miles  below  the  moun- 
tain the  river  passes  through  Otter  Lake.  While  crossing 
this  lake,  the  raft  parted,  the  whole  of  the  "  wrecker's"  booty 
went  to  the  bottom,  and  he  and  his  men  narrowly  escaped 
drowning.  It  is  but  just  to  say  that  the  incident  served  a 
good  purpose  in  that  the  gentleman  was  never  afterwards 
known  to  engage  in  a  similar  enterprise. 

The  headwaters  of  the  Elm,  Misery,  and  Flint  and  Fire 
Steel  rivers  were  pretty  thoroughly  explored  in  1846.  Julian 
Magill  was  the  only  superintendent  who  can  now  be  recalled 
to  memory. 

Ontonagon. — We  describe  Ontonagon  village  as  first  seen 
in  the  summer  of  1846.  The  river  of  the  same  name,  is  one 
of  the  largest  streams  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior; 
it  is  one  hundred  yards  wide  at  the  mouth,  and  carries  eight 
feet  of  water  over  the  bar.  A  short  distance  above  the  mouth, 
the  stream  expands,  forming  a  wide  basin,  or  bowl,  with  an 
island  in  it.  The  east  bank  is  from  six  to  eight  feet  high; 
quite  a  level  plain  sweeps  off  to  the  eastward,  offering  a  good 
town  site.  A  few  acres  are  cleared,  but  some  oaks  have  been 
spared.  Two  buildings  occupy  the  open  space,  namely,  Jim 
Paull's  cabin  and  the  Mineral  agency.  The  last  named  is  a 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


good  log  structure,  costing  $1,500.     Mr.  Paull's  cabin  is  about 
eight  feet  by  ten,  with  a  door,  but  no  window  and  low  roof. 
This  is  the  hotel  of  the  place,  par  excellence;  chief  entertain- 
ment, whisky,  tobacco  and  Jim's  stories.      Mr.    Paull  is  a 
character  hailing    from   Old  Virginia,   a  generous,   honest, 
fearless,  backwoodsman.     Ontonagon  is  the  rallying  point  on 
the  west  for  copper  hunters.     Sunday  is  the  day  when  the 
crowds,   pouring  in  from  the  woods,  there  most  do  congre- 
gate.    A   wild,  nomad  set  truly  !     Whisky  is  then  fearfully 
punished  and  punishes  in  return.     Bar  fights  are  common. 
The  little  clearing  swarms  with  people.     The  white  tents 
gleam  up  and  down  on  the  banks.     Gambling  is  the  amuse- 
ment of  those  who  do  not  fight.     At  such  times  Mr.  Paull 
has  much  business  on  hand  with  the  drunken  half-breeds. 
He  is  equal  to  the  occasion.     He  had  a  rencontre  with  ine- 
briated John  Champaign.     Old  John  was  a  powerful  half- 
cast,  gentle  as  a  lamb  when  sober,  but  a  devil  when  in  liquor. 
Already   drunk,   he    presented    himself   at    Jim's   bar    and 
demanded  more  whiskey.     He  was  refused.     Thereupon   he 
challenged  Mr.  Paull  to  fight.     The  southern  blood  was  up 
in  an  instant.     Jim  leaped  over  the  counter,  seized  a  spade 
and  made  a  pass  at  John's  head;  the  blow  glanced  and  struck 
Captain  Graham  and  nearly  brought  him  down.     Meantime 
John  darted  a  knife  at  Jim's  abdomen,  but  only  the  waist- 
band was  cut.     Now  Jim  raised  the  spade  again  and  brought 
the  edge  thug  down  upon  John's   head.     He  sank  to  the 
ground  without  a  moan,  quivering  like  a  stricken  ox.     The 
place  ran  red  with  blood,  and  John  was  dragged  off  the  scene 
by  the  hair  of  his  head.     He  was  around  all  right,  next  day. 
Paull,  afterward,  in  graphically  relating  the  story  of  the  fray, 
would  say.  ''  T  tuck  him  the  second  time.'1 

Poor  Mr.  William  Schlatter  was  a  denizen  of  Ontonagon 
at  this  time.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  education  and 
possessed  great  talent  as  a  draughtsman;  but  he  was  the 
bond  slave  of  whisky — WOULD  have  it,  somehow.  Among 
our  camp  stores  was  a  bottle  of  pungent  physic.  One  day, 
when  the  tent  was  empty,  Mr.  William  stole  cautiously  in,  in 


48  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


search  of  whisky.  He  eagerly  clutched  the  bottle  of  physic 
and  drank  freely  thereof  before  he  discovered  his  mistake. 
The  consequences  may  be  imagined,  not  described.  The  poor 
gentleman  was  afterwards  frozen  to  death  on  the  hill  back  of 
the  Quincy  mine.  When  discovered,  he  was  lying  meekly  on 
his  back,  with  his  hands  folded  on  his  breast,  and  his  hat 
placed  reverently  by  his  side.  He  had  chosen  a  spot  where 
the  branches  of  the  trees  opened  so  he  could  see  the  stars. 
He  died  bravely,  looking  into  the  heavens !  The  old  pioneers 
will  remember  him. 

Col.  A.  B.  Gray,  attached  to  the  mineral  agency,  afterward 
Chief  Surveyor  on  Mexican  Boundary  Survey,  and,  later 
still,  a  Col.  of  Confederate  Engineers,  killed  on  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  once  went  with  Mr.  Paull  after  a  big  mass  located 
by  an  Indian  geologist  somewhere  in  the  region  of  lake 
Agogeebic.  The  party  sailed  mysteriously  from  Copper  Har- 
bor and  landed  at  Iron  River,  and  then  took  to  the  woods, 
guided  by  the  Indian.  On  the  evening  of  the  third  day  the 
guide  announced  that  they  were  near  the  mass,  but  they 
didn't  see  it.  He  had  lost  his  reckoning;  they  would  find  it 
on  the  morrow  without  fail.  They  tramped  all  the  next  day 
and  reached  the  spot  where  the  mass  had  been.  But  the  evil 
Manitou  had  carried  it  off!  Was  angry  with  white  man  ! 
The  lively  little  Colonel  threatened  to  shoot  the  lying  Indian; 
Mr.  Paull  proceeded  to  Castigate  the  gay  deceiver,  who,  divin- 
ing trouble,  ran  into  the  woods  and  was  seen  no  more.  Travel 
worn,  out  of  provisions,  our  deluded  ones  started  for  the 
nearest  water,  and  finally  came  out  at  L'Anse — with  their 
faith  in  Indian  geologists  much  shaken.  Col.  Gray  related 
this  story  to  the  writer,  under  the  genial  skies  of  Mexico, 
in  the  old  homes  of  the  Aztecs  of  the  Gila — that  mystic  peo- 
ple who  may  have  been  the  same  race  as  the  "  Ancient 
Miner  "  who  worked  at  the  mass  of  copper  discovered  by  Mr. 
Knapp  in  the  ancient  diggings  at  the  Minnesota  Mine.  Who 
knows?  Paul  still  resides  at  Ontonagon,  and  takes  great 
pleasure  in  relating  how  he  found  the  copper  rock  and  scared 
off  Eldred  and  his  Indians. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  49 

The  copper  boulder  noticed  by  the  earliest  travelers  was 
the  cause  of  many  strong  delusions.  Dr.  Houghtoii  saw  and 
described  this  mass,  as  lying  in  the  westerly  fork  of  the 
Ontonagon  river,  twenty-six  miles  from  its  mouth.  Hough- 
ton  and  Bristol  say,  "this  mass  was  removed  by  Julius 
Eldred,  and  after  considerable  pieces  had  been  cut  from  it, 
was  weighed  in  New  York,  and  found  to  weigh  3,708  pounds 
net  avoirdupois/1  (They  were  mistaken.  The  honor  belongs 
to  Paull,  who  found  and  removed  the  rock,  and  afterwards 
sold  it  to  Eldred,  as  before  stated.)  The  writer  of  this  sketch 
finds  in  his  note  book  the  following  memoranda: — date,  sum- 
mer, 1846.  "  I  saw  011  a  rude  raft,  tied  up  near  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  a  slab-like  mass  of  pure  copper  several  feet  in 
length,  worn  smooth  and  spotted  all  over  with  silver.  This 
float  was  found  up  the  river  in  the  drift;  it  is  a  great  curi- 
osity. Many  arc  the  conjectures  as  to  whence  it  came.  Dr. 
Jackson  thinks  it  came  on  an  iceberg  from  Isle  Royale. 
Why  ?  "  Who  found  this  mass,  and  brought  it  out,  the  writer 
has  no  data  for  ascertaining. 

About  a  mile  up  the  river,  Mr.  Cash  had  opened  a  farm  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river;  he  finally  made  it  a  success.  .  This 
pioneer  resided  in  Ontonagon  county  until  the  day  of  his 
death,  about  four  years  ago.  He  was  a  useful  and  much 
respected  citizen.  Colonel  Whitllesey,  the  distinguished  geolo- 
gist and  writer,  a  graduate  of  West  Point  Academy,  explored 
the  Ontonagon  region  very  thoroughly  in  1846-'7.  South- 
east of  Ontonagon,  on  the  Range,  there  was  a  vast  amount  of 
exploring  done  and,  at  points,  regular  mine  work  was  begun. 
At  the  Algonquin  mine,  quite  a  clearing  had  been  made,  and 
a  force  of  miners  were  at  work  on  an  epidote  lode  showing 
considerable  copper.  Mr.  Bushnell  was  superintendent  of  this 
company.  The  surface  of  the  whole  country  was  wild  and 
broken,  and  there  were  many  out-crops  of  Trap, — a  favorable 
condition  for  exploration. 

Up  the  river,  on  the  east  bank,  some  miners  were  working 
on  an  epidote  vein  which  yielded  considerable  bunch  copper. 
This  point  was  near  the  afterward  famous  Minnesota  mine. 


50  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Iron  Elver. — Exploring  parties  had  penetrated  the  region 
drained  by  this  river,  and  locations  were  made.  The  Porcu- 
pine mountains  were  also  thoroughly  explored  and  located, 
though  unsurveyed.  Nor  did  the  bold  copper  and  silver  mine 
hunters  pause  at  the  limits  of  the  State  of  Michigan;  they 
pressed  onward  to  the  head  of  the  lake  and  thence,  following 
around  the  north  shore,  explored  the  deep  bays  and  islands 
of  that  rugged  coast,  and,  after  weeks  of  dangerous  naviga- 
tion, in  frail  boats,  they  finally  rested  at  the  falls  of  Ste.  Marie. 

This  completes  our  hasty  and  imperfect  sketch  of  the  first 
crusade,  so  to  speak,  and  the  beginning  of  permanent  mine 
industry  and  actual  settlement  in  the  Copper  mines  of  Lake 
Superior. 

It  remains  for  us  to  sweep  with  the  utmost  rapidity  over 
the  canvass  which  the  local  events  of  thirty  years  has  crowded. 
In  the  space  allotted,  it  would  be  impossible  to  do  justice  to 
this  teeming  period.  We  dare  attempt  only  the  briefest 
mention. 

The  closing  down  of  the  winter  of  184:7-18,  brought  gloom 
and  despondency.  The  "Cliff11  was  really  the  only  bright 
spot  in  the  whole  horizon. 

The  discovery  of  the  great  Minnesota  lode  in  1847,  near  the 
Ontonagon  river,  was  a  memorable  and  salutary  event.  It 
gave  a  new  impetus  to  mining,  revived  hope  in  despondent 
breasts,  and  inspired  confidence  in  all.  It  was  the  beginning 
of  a  new  era  in  progress  and  discovery.  TJiis  grand  mine, 
for  many  years,  produced  mass  copper  in  great  abundance; 
much  native  silver  was  also  raised.  During  its  active  career 
this  mine  divided  among  its  stockholders  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
$2,000,000,  we  believe. 

Mr.  Knapp,  w.e  believe,  was  the  first  superintendent. 
Messrs.  Roberts  and  Townsend  were,  for  a  decade  or  more  of 
years,  the  sagacious  managers  or  agents.  Captain  William 
Harris  acquired  here  an  enviable  reputation  as  chief  mine 
captain.  Very  many  gentlemen,  since  prominent  in  the  cop- 
per mines,  acquired  their  experience  at  this  mine.  The 
National  and  Rockland  were  immediate  neighbors  on  the 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  51 


same  lode.  In  this  community  we  found  in  1847  the  follow- 
ing named  gentlemen:  Drs.  Flanner  and  Osborne,  Messrs.  I. 
N.  Wright,  Thomas  Buzzo,  Button,  Webb,  Richards,  Cheno- 
weth,  Hoyt,  F.  G.  White,  Mr.  Anthony,  Mr.  Sanderson.  Mr. 
€ooper,  of  Pittsburgh,  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in .  the 
National,  as  he  was  in  the  Cliff  and  many  other  enterprises. 
All  along  the  range,  both  east  and  west  of  the  river,  mining 
operations  were,  for  a  time,  active.  Of  the  names  that  we 
can  now  recall,  we  note  those  of  Messrs.  A.  C.  Davis,  S.  S. 
Robinson,  L.  M.  Dickens,  W.  H.  Stevens,  Captain  Hardie,  Mr. 
Sales,  Hon.  W.  E.  Dickinson,  Mr.  Roberts,  Captain  Martin, 
Mr.  Buzzo,  Sr..Mr.  Spaulding,  Mr.  Coburn,  all  chief  mine  man- 
gers or  proprietors.  The  nourishing  village  of  Rockland 
sprang  up  under  the  nurture  of  the  Minnesota  and  National. 
Messrs.  Benjamin  T.  Rogers,  Phelan,  Johnson  and  Judge  Alan 
were  prosperous  citizens  of  that  town. 

Ontonagon  village,  the  county  seat  and  sea  port  of  the 
county,  grew  rapidly  and  became  the  handsomest  town  on 
Lake  Superior,  before  Marquette  arose  to  claim  precedence. 
The  people  were  refined  and  enterprising.  Among  the  good 
citizens,  Mr.  Lew  Dickins.  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  pioneers,  Mr. 
Paull,  Mr.  Coburn,  Mr.  Sales,  Mr.  Cash,  Mr.  Jones,  Honorable 
Jay  A.  Hubble,  present  member  of  Congress  from  the  Ninth 
District  of  Michigan,  Mr.  Mercer,  Mr.  Close,  Mr.  Carson,  State 
Senator  Willard,  Mr.  Condon,  Mr.  Holland,  Mr.  Beaser  and 
Mr.  Devereaux,  were  conspicuous  names.  Thomas  F.  Mason 
was  pecuniarily  interested  in  the  Minnesota  mine.  He  vis- 
ited the  country  at  an  early  day,  and  has  many  claims  to  the 
rank  of  a  pioneer.  He  has  occupied  important  and  controll- 
ing positions  in  the  Quincy  and  several  other  mines.  Mr. 
Horatio  Bigelow,  also,  in  all  the  copper  counties,  has  filled 
acceptably,  many  responsible  directorial  and  financial  posi- 
tions. Our  space  will  not  permit  of  even  a  passing  notice  of 
the  numerous  mines  that  have  flourished  in  Ontonagon 
county.  The  abatement  of  the  copper  yield  of  the  Minne- 
sota and  National,  among  other  causes,  has  placed  the  county 
under  a  cloud.  But  its  mineral  resources  are  great,  and  we 


52  MINERAL   RESOURCES 


think  the  time  is  not  distant  when  some  new  discovery,  or  a 
more  favorable  set  of  circumstances,  will  make  that  district 
once  more  prosperous  and  happy.  The  very  best  mining  coun- 
tries have  had  their  ups  and  downs,  and  so  it  will  ever  be. 

Ancient  Mine  Works. — All  along  the  Trap  Ranges  ancient 
mining  works  are  numerous.  The  first  discovery  of  one  of 
them  was,  according  to  Dr.  J.  W.  Foster,  made  in  the  winter 
of  1847-'8,  by  Mr.  Samuel  0.  Enapp  on  the  Minnesota  Com- 
pany's grounds.  One  pit  opened  by  Mr.  Enapp,  is  thus 
described.  "When  he  had  penetrated  to  a  depth  of  eighteen 
feet,  he  came  to  a  mass  of  native  copper,  ten  feet  long,  three 
feet  wide,  and  nearly  two  feet  thick,  and  weighing  over  six 
tons.  On  digging  round  the  mass,  it  was  found  to  rest  on 
billets  of  oak,  supported  by  sleepers  of  the  same  material. 
The  wood,  from  its  long  exposure  to  moisture,  was  dark-col- 
ored and  had  lost  its  consistency.  It  opposed  no  more  resist- 
ence  to  a  knife  blade  than  so  much  peat.  The  earth  was  so 
firmly  packed  as  to  support  the  mass  of  copper.  The  ancient 
miners  had  evidently  raised  it  about  five  feet  and  then  aban- 
doned the  work  as  too  laborious.  The  number  of  ancient 
hammers  he  took  from  this  and  other  excavations,  exceeded 
ten  cart  loads.  They  were  made  of  greenstone  and  porphyry 
boulders.  Selecting  a  stone  of  the  desired  size  and  form,  the 
ancient  miner  cut  a  grove,  arched  it  so  that  it  might  be  secured 
by  a  withe,  and  thus  wielded  as  a  sledge  hammer." 

The  instances  of  similar  works  elsewhere  are  too  common 
and  well  known  to  be  dwelt  upon.  There  is  scarcely  a  pro- 
ductive vein  or  lode  in  these  districts,  that  did  not  show 
traces  of  ancient  works.  Mr.  Hulbert  found  them  at  the 
Calumet,  leading  down  to  the  conglomerate  belt.  Hon. 
Samuel  W.  Hill,  some  two  years  ago,  discovered  pits  and 
trenches  on  Isle  Roy  ale  of  great  magnitude  and  of  surpassing 
interest.  He  states  that  those  works  exceed  in  extent  all 
other  works  of  the  kind  heretofore  seen  in  the  copper  region 
put  together.  The  Minong  mining  company,  Mr.  A.  C. 
Davis,  Supt.,  is  successfully  operating  in  a  system  of  those 
pits,  which  covers  a  space  400  feet  wide  and  1^-  miles  long. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  53 

An  army  of  ancient  miners  must  have  wrought  there  many 


Float  copper  is  also  of  common  occurrence;  it  often  leads 
to  the  discovery  of  veins  in  the  immediate  neighborhood 
The  largest  pure  mass  found  in  modern  times  was  cut  up  by 
Mr.  Jacob  Houghton,  Agent  of  the  mine  on  the  Mesnard 
Mining  Company's  land,  near  Hancock.  It  weighed  eighteen 
tons.  It  was  found  in  the  woods,  and  was  covered  with  moss. 
It  had  been  worked  at  by  the  ancient  miner.  Much  charcoal 
was  found  under  it;  its  top  and  sides  were  beaten  smooth; 
marks  of  stone  hammers  were  apparent.  All  projections,  ever}' 
bit  of  copper  that  could  be  pounded  off  had  been  carried  away. 
The  ancient  man  then  left  the  pure,  noble  mass,  doubtless 
feeling  a  supreme  disgust  at  his  inability  to  remove  the  treasure. 

This  mass  had  evidently  been  forcibly  torn  from  its  bed,  50 
feet  distant— the  Epidote  lode — by  an  iceberg.  Subsequent 
mining  disclosed  its  original  bed,  or  matrix. 

PORTAGE  LAKE    COPPER    DISTRICT. 

This  district,  at  the  present  time  the  most  prominent,  did  not 
attain  to  much  note  prior  to  the  year  1860.  Mr.  Ransom  Shel- 
den,  who  now  resides  at  Houghton,  as  we  have  already  stated 
settled  at  Portage  Entry  in  1847.  For  a  time  he  traded  with 
the  Indians,  but  his  summers  were  spent  on  the  Range  in 
exploring.  Although  not  a  mineral  expert,  or  highly  edu- 
cated, he  acquired  a  good  practical  knowledge  of  the  vein 
phenomena  of  the  country,  multiplied  field-notes  and,  in  the 
course  of  time  with  the  assistance  of  capitalists,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  purchasing  many  sections  of  mineral  lands  of 
value,  which  ultimately  placed  him  and  his  partner,  Mr.  C.  C. 
Douglass,  among  the  largest  and  wealthiest  landed  proprietors 
in  the  upper  peninsula. 

In  18r>2  he  removed  to  the  Quincy  mine  and  lived  in  a 
small  log  house  on  the  hill  side.  In  1854  he  removed  to 
Houghton,  built  the  log  house  which  stands  across  the  street 
from  his  present  mansion,  and  the  old  log  store  which  stands 
opposite  Smith  &  Harris1  store.  In  1857,  Houghton  con- 


54  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

tained,  by  count,  40  buildings  including  shanties.     It  is  now 
a  flourishing  village  of  3,000  people,  and  is  the  county  seat. 

In  the  decade,  1850  to  1860,  Portage  Lake  mine  industry 
was  of  slow  growth, — with  many  pull  backs  arid  clouded  with 
doubt  and  uncertainty,  and  not  very  highly  esteemed  by  the 
magnates  of  the  Cliff  and  Minnesota.  On  the  south  side  of 
the  lake  mining  at  first  was  most  active.  The  Isle  Royale, 
Portage,  Huron,  Shelden  and  Albion,  were  wrought  with 
more  or  less  vigor.  Three  of  these  companies  had  con- 
structed small  stamp  mills  on  the  lake  shore.  C.  C.  Douglass 
managed  the  Portage  and  other  properties — J.  H.  Forster,  for 
a  brief  term  in  1857,  was  Supt.  of  the  Portage.  Mr.  Rick- 
ard  was  at  the  Isle  Royale,  afterwards  Mr.  Dickinson  and  Mr. 
Hopkins,  and  later  still,  Mr.  Eschweiler  and  John  Mabbs. 
Captain  Edwards  was  at  the  Albion,  and  had  constructed 
a  saw  mill  near  his  family  residence.  Mr.  Shelden  was 
active  in  mine  operations  on  both  sides  of  the  lake. 
Under  the  management  of  Mr.  Sam'l  W.  Hill,  the  "  old  war- 
horse"  of  Houghton  and  Keweenaw  counties,  with  Messrs. 
Thos.  M.  Mason  and  John  Simpkins  as  directors  and  financial 
men  in  New  York,  the  QUINCY  MINE,  in  1860,  had  emerged 
into  the  position  of  a  first-class  mine.  Mr.  Hill  was  assisted 
by  Mr.  Nathaniel  Simpkins,  clerk;  Capt.  Hardie,  chief  mine 
captain;  Mr.  Quinn,  Mr.  Duncan,  and  the  Pattersons,  with  Mr. 
Scheurman,  Stamp  mill  Supt.  The  Messrs.  Emerson,  civil 
and  mine  engineers,  were  for  many  years  connected  with  the 
mine — Mr.  Luther  Emerson  is  there  still.  Professor  George 
Emerson  is  now  filling  the  chair  of  civil  and  mine  engineer 
in  the  University  of  Missouri,  at  Rolla.  Mr.  S!  S.  Robinson 
succeeded  Mr.  Hill  as  Supt.  in  1860.  In  1861-'2  the  Quincy 
reached  a  dividend  paying  point,  which  it  has  maintained 
ever  since — having  divided  to  its  stockholders  $1,890,000. 
The  deepest  shaft  in  this  mine  is  about  1,800  feet.  Mr.  Corey 
is  the  present  agent;  Mr.  Clift,  mine  Capt.;  Quinn,  2d. 

Pewabic  and  Franklin  Companies. — These  companies  are 
contemporaneous  with  the  Quincy,  and  are  working  on  the 
same  lode.  They  were  opened  by  Mr.  Chas.  H.  Palmer  and 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  55 

Mr.  Win.  B.  Frue,  and  placed  upon  a  favorable  footing.  In 
1857,  we  saw  Captain  Frne  hauling  out  masses  of  copper  at 
the  Pewabic.  from  open  trenches  on  the  lode,  with  oxen.  From 
Oct.,  1860  to  1865,  these  mines  were  under  the  management 
of  John  H.  Forster,  agent,  assisted  by  captains  John  Gun- 
dry,  John  Ryan,  I.  P.  Hodgson,  J.  C.  Hodgson  and  John 
McCrystal.  E.  I.  Loring,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  was  Treasurer, 
and  Chas.  Emery,  Sec'y-  These  mines,  during  the  term  men- 
tioned, paid  handsome  dividends — (the  Pewabic,  $270,000; 
the  Franklin,  $160,000,)  besides  adding  largely  to  the  mine 
plant  and  liquidating  a  large  indebtedness.  Messrs.  Chas. 
Wheeler,  James  Blandy,  John  Blaine,  John  Rice,  Carlos 
Watson,  Henry  Lewis  and  Chas.  Smith  were  clerks.  The 
Pewabic  and  Franklin  each  had  four  heads  of  Ball's  stamps, 
and  separate  tram-roads  leading  thereto.  Mr.  Cleaves  was 
Supt.  of  the  latter,  and  Mr.  W.  T.  Forster  of  the  former 
mill.  The  Franklin  company  introduced  the  first  locomotive 
seen  in  the  copper  mines,  and  the  first  skip  car.  Mr.  John- 
son Vivian  is  at  present  agent  of  these  mines. 

The  copper  smelting  works  on  Portage  Lake  were  begun 
in  1860  by  Col.  Brigham,  of  Boston.  Mr.  John  Williams 
was  chief  smelter  and  agent  for  several  years.  Mr.  John  R. 
Grout,  the  very  able  chief  manager,  has  brought  these  works 
to  a  position  of  high  excellence  and  effectiveness  not  exceeded 
by  any  other  works  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 

Whereas  the  counties,  or  copper  districts  of  Keweenaw 
and  Ontonagon  were  mainly  distinguished  for  their  great 
fissure  veins  which  produced  native  copper  in  masses,  often 
of  enormous  dimensions  and  great  purity,  the  Portage  Lake 
district  is  almost  destitute  of  true  fissure  veins,  (the  small 
cross-courses  found  thus  far,  being  destitute  of  copper  in 
paying  quantities,)  and  has  relied  exclusively  upon  stamp 
lodes  for  products  and  success.  There  are  several  of  these 
lodes  of  prominence,  namely,  the  Isle  Roy  ale,  Pewabic,  Han- 
cock, South  Pewabic  or  Atlantic,  Allouez  Osceola  and  Calumet. 
These  lodes  run  with  the  formation,  that  is,  about  33  degrees 
east  of  north;  all  are  amygdaloidal  in  character,  except  the 


56  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Calumet  Osceola  and  Allouez,  which  are  conglomerates,  and 
yield  from  two  to  five  per  cent,  mineral.  Most  of  the  mines 
working  upon  these  lodes  or  belts,  raise  some  heavy  copper  in 
irregular  masses,  technically  called  "  mass  and  barrel  work." 
This  kind  of  mineral  is  freed  from  rocky  impurities  by  means 
of  sledging  or  hammerings,  and  is  then  sent  direct  to  the 
smelting  works  for  treatment.  But  at  least  70  per  cent,  of 
the  mineral  raised  from  these  mines  is  what  is  termed  stamp 
rock.  The  conglomerate  belts  are  almost  exclusively  stamp 
rock.  Occasional  rounded  boulders  are  found  in  the  matrix, 
containing  so  large  a  percentage  of  copper  and  of  such  con- 
siderable size  that  they  are  sent  direct  to  the  smelt  house. 

The  stamp  rock  is  the  finer  grades  of  native  copper — from 
the  size  of  a  walnut,  buck-shot,  bird  shot,  down  to  the  finest 
flour — combined  with  the  vein-stone,  or  matrix  of  the  lode. 
It  is  associated  with  a  great  variety  of  beautiful  minerals, 
such  as  calcite,  quartz,  phreite,  table  spar,  laumonite,  chlorite 
epidote  and  soft  brown  amygdaloid.  In  the  conglomerate 
the  copper  is  the  cementing  material  which  binds  the 
boulders,  pebbles  and  sand  together  in  a  hard,  tough  mass. 
After  being  mined,  the  reduction  of  the  stamp  rock  to  what 
is  called  mineral  fit  for  reception  at  the  smelting  works, 
necessitates  the  use  of  powerful  machinery,  known  as  stamps 
or  stamp  mills.  Hence  we  find  on  Portage  Lake  many  mills 
of  this  character,  of  enormous  proportions  and  great  exe- 
cution. The  mills  of  the  Calumet  &  Hecla  company  on 
Torch  Lake,  for  example,  with  seven  heads  of  steamp  stamps, 
treat  no  less  than  800  tons  of  hard  copper-cemented  rock 
each  twenty-four  hours,  reducing  said  rock  to  fine  sand  and 
slime.  The  sand  and  copper  as  they  flow  from  under  the 
stamps,  which  by  the  most  violent  pounding  conceivable, 
have  forced  a  dissolution  of  particles,  long  wedded  in  the 
mine,  fall  upon  Collum's  patent  washers  and  finishers. 
These  washers,  in  great  numbers,  neatly  adjusted,  and  moved 
by  the  great  engine  of  the  place,  and  with  nicely  graduated 
streams  of  water  flowing  through  them,  separate  the  copper 
from  the  waste  sand;  the  copper,  by  its  own  gravity,  settling 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  57 

in  the  bottom  of  the  wired  jiggers,  or  falling  into  boxes 
through  Asmus'  self-dischargers,  while  the  sand,  flowing  over 
tne  aprons  of  the  jiggers,  fall  into  launders  or  sluice  boxes, 
and  is  conducted  by  a  rush  of  water  into  the  lake  or  other 
place  of  deposit. 

The  mineral,  assorted  and  numbered,  is  placed  in  barrels 
and  sent  to  the  smelting  works  to  be  converted  into  ingots, 
cakes  and  bolts  ready  for  market.  Well  dressed  mineral  will 
yield  about  80  per  cent,  ingot  copper. 

A  large  quantity  of  water  is  used  in  the  various  processes 
at  one  of  these  mills — say  from  1,500  to  2,000  gallons  per 
minute.  A  powerful  pumping  engine  is  attached  to  most 
mills,  and  this  large  volume  of  water  is  forced  to  the  top  of 
the  mill,  in  some  cases  40  to  50  feet  high. 

A  mill  of  the  character  above  described  consumes  from 
fifteen  to  fifty  cords  of  mixed  wood  every  twenty-four  hours, 
or  bituminous  coal  in  relative  proportion,  according  to  num- 
ber of  tons  of  rock  treated.  Hence,  a  large  mill  with  its 
two  gangs  of  operatives,  its  wood  choppers,  teamsters  and 
general  supply  men,  affords  occupation  for  quite  a  numerous 
community. 

The  monthly  cost  of  operating  such  a  mine  as  the  Calu- 
met &  Hecla,  in  all  departments,  including  a  railroad  five 
miles  long,  is  about  $100,000.  The  monthly  product  of  ingot 
copper  is  about  800  tons— worth  about  $300,000. 

VILLAGE   OF   HANCOCK. 

This  place  was  laid  out  in  1858.  The  first  store  erected 
was  by  that  enterprising  firm,  the  Leopolds.  At  one  time 
Hancock  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  is  now  a  very  flourishing, 
enterprising  town,  growing  rapidly.  It  speaks  for  itself. 
President  Holland's  narrow  gauge  railroad  terminating  at 
this  point  is  the  latest  triumph  in  this  district.  The  days  of 
Indian  trails  and  dog  trains  are  indeed  gone! 

We  deeply  regret  that  the  prescribed  limits  of  this  paper 
cannot  be  exceeded.  We  would  like  to  make  further  mention 
of  the  Portage  district — of  its  older  and  newer  mines — its 


58  MINERAL   RESOURCES 


many  local  enterprises — and  its  industrious,  go-ahead,  gener- 
ous, cultured  people.  We  must  content  ourselves  with  say- 
ing that  prior  to  1866,  the  Huron  mine  had  attained  promi- 
nence under  the  agency  of  Mr.  E.  J.  Hulbert.  Also,  that  the 
South  Pewabic  and  Adams  (now  Atlantic,)  were  discovered, 
opened  and  equipped,  having  four  of  Ball's  largest  stamps,  by 
agent  William  B.  Frue,  assisted  by  Messrs.  David  Hodgson, 
John  Rice,  William  Ryan,  William  Noble,  Henry  Lewis, 
Joseph  Ames  and  William  T.  Forster.  The  mine  is  now 
managed  by  Mr.  Robert.  Finally,  the  greatest  discovery 
made  in  the  district  was  about  the  year  1866 — iliefind  of  the 
great  Calumet  conglomerate,  by  Mr.  E.  J.  Hulbert.  It 
would  be  like  attempting  to  paint  the  lily  to  describe  this 
mine.  Mr.  I.  N.  Wright  is  tne  chief  agent  at  the  head  of 
this  mammoth  concern. 

The  Osceola,  on  the  Calumet  lode,  is  a  promising  new 
mine.  Hon.  F.  G.  White,  agent. 

The  Allouez  is  another  new  concern  on  the  Allouez  lode. 
Capt.  William  Harris,  agent. 

As  intimately  connected  with  the  mines,  we  mention  the 
Portage  River  Improvement.  This  work  began  in  the  fall  of 
1859;  was  opened  to  navigation  in  the  summer  of  1860.  The 
money  to  build  it  was  contributed  by  the  local  mining  com- 
panies and  Messrs.  Shelden  and  Douglass.  Mr.  W.  W. 
Williams  was  the  contractor,  Mr.  John  H.  Forster,  engineer. 

PORTAGE  LAK.E  AJO)  LAKE  SUPERIOR  SHIP  CANAL. 

This  work,  predicted  by  Mr.  Wm.  A.  Burt,  a  generation 
ago,  was  finished  in  the  year  1873.  About  seven  years  were 
consumed  in  its  construction.  It  is  2i  miles  long,  100  feet 
wide,  with  heavy  breakwaters  on  lake  Superior,  and  cost  sev- 
eral millions  of  dollars.  The  Messrs.  Avery  &  W'ells  were 
contractors  and  proprietors.  J.  N.  Greene,  C.  E.,  planned 
the  work,  and  began  it.  Mr.  John  H.  Forster  was  engineer 
thereon  during  the  administrations  of  Gov.  Baldwin,  and  for 
two  years  under  Gov.  Bagley.  These  canals  have  added 
greatly  to  the  commercial  importance  of  Portage  Lake. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  59 

Before  the  Portage  River  improvement  was  made,  and  prior 
to  I860,  Portage  lake  was  difficult  of  access.     At  the  earliest 
time,  the  lake  steamers   used   to   land   passengers  in  small 
boats,  at  the  portage;  a  portage  of  two  miles  had  to  be  made, 
most  of  the  way  through  a  tamarack  swamp,  and  then  the 
traveler  was  rowed  in  a  small  boat,  to  Houghton.      In  1857, 
steamers  began  to  run  to  Portage  Entry.     They  anchored  in 
the  roadstead,  and  landed  freight  and  passengers  upon  scows, 
which  were  towed  into  the  river  and  up  the  lake  by  small 
tugs.     There  was  only  three  feet  of  water  on  the  bar  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river.     Several   days  were   consumed   in  dis- 
charging a  steamer,  and  if  a  storm  came  on,  the  boat  had  to 
cut  and  run  to  ITAnse,  and  there  await  favorable  weather. 
The  arrival  and  departure  of  steamers  at  the  Entry  was  a 
matter   of  much   uncertainty,   and    passengers   were   often 
detained    there   several   days,   in   consequence.      Many   will 
remember  vividly  the  days  of  waiting  in  Edgerton's  log  cabin 
in  the  swamp,  in  mosquito  time,  with  scarce  a  rood  of  dry 
land  to  stretch  one's  limbs  upon.     The  bill  of  fare  did  not 
outrival  Delmonico's,  and  the  softest  bed  to  be  procured  was 
a  blanket  spread  upon  a  pine  puncheon.     Cards  and  whisky 
were  the  only  and  questionable  resources  from  utter  misery* 
We  are  afraid  that  the  amount  of  profanity  evolved  then, 
under  trying  circumstances,  was  sufficient  to  demoralize  the 
neighboring  community  of  bull  frogs,  for  many  generations. 
Capt.  James  Bendry,  as  commander  of  the  slow-sure  tug, 
Pratt,  was  a  prominent   figure  in  those  waters.     He   could 
steer  his  vessel  over  the  mud  flats  and  through  the  sinuous 
river,  just  as  well  asleep  as  awake.  .  During  the  busy  season 
he  never  undressed,  or  laid  down  for  weeks,  and  the  little 
sleep  he  got  was  while  standing  at  the  wheel;  the  Pratt,  like 
a  thing  of  life,  going  where  she  had  a  mind  to.     Like  a  mud 
turtle,  she  rather  affected  a  soft,  oozy  point  to  run  her  nose 
upon.      Passengers  were  generally  fortunate  if  they  reached 
Houghton  the  same  day  of  their  departure  from  the  Entry,  a 
distance  of  fourteen  miles — such  were  the  delays  and  dangers 
of  navigation.     The  delights  of  this  voyage  were  greatly 


60  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

augmented  when  Captain  Beiidry  was  towing  a  scow  loaded 
with  a  thousand  kegs  of  powder,  alongside  his  brave  tug. 
The  scenic  effect  was  increased  if  your  journey  was  protracted 
into  the  dark  night ;  for  then  the  millions  of  sparks  from  the 
wood  fuel  could  be  seen  pouring  out  of  the  flue,  and  falling 
in  showers  upon  the  powder.  Passengers  speculated,  the 
while,  as  to  the  probabilities  of  a  speedy  transfer  to  another 
world,  but  the  jolly  captain  never  lost  his  aplomb,  or  showed 
the  white  feather — and  what's  better,  he  never  blew  up;  for 
our  old  friend  is  still  an  active  and  useful  citizen  of  Baraga. 
When  he  does  receive  his  final  marching  orders,  he  will  be 
sadly  missed.  Mr.  Carlos  D.  Shelden  also  commanded  the 
rival  steamer,  Princess. 

The  very  latest  water-way  improvement  is  the  ship  canal, — 
about  two  miles  long,  cut  through  the  marshes  between  Por- 
tage and  Torch  lakes.  This  work  was  finished  in  September, 
1875.  It  was  executed  by  E.  T.  Williams  &  Co.,  with  their 
powerful  dredges.  The  entire  cost  was  about  $100,000;  this 
sum  was  furnished  by  the  Calumet  &  Hecla,  Mining  Co.  The 
largest  steamers  and  coal-laden  vessels  on  the  lake,  now  dis- 
charge at  their  docks  on  Torch  lake,  the  lake  terminus  of  their 
railroad. 

We  record  here  the  names  of  such  mining-men  as  we  can 
recall, — not  previously  mentioned, — who  have  wrought  in  the 
Portage  district,  many  of  them  on  the  list  of  pioneers,  name- 
ly: Messrs.  R.  J.  Wood,  A.  B.  Wood,  H.  Q.  F.  D'Aligny, 
C.  E.,  Jacob  Houghton,  Mr.  Crofts,  Mr.  Hague,  Mr.  Worm- 
inghouse,  Mr.  Swift,  Mr.  Bennetts,  the  Pryors,  Austin 
Mabbs,  Captain  Moody,  Graham  Pope,  Alexander  Pope, 
S.  L.  Smith,  Wm.  Harris,  John  and  Richard  Hoar;  captains 
Dunn,  Northey,  McDonald,  Roberts,  Beesly  brothers,  Reid, 
Groodell,  Asmus,  Wallace,  Cox,  Chas.  H.  Palmer,  Jr.,  Fleige, 
Snell,  Dr.  Fuller,  Dr.  Rhodes,  Dr.  Carpenter,  Dr.  Tompkins, 
Dr.  Robbius,  T.  J.  Brown,  T.  M.  Forster,  Joseph  Edwards, 
Wm.  Hendrick,  Ross,  Ellenbecker,  Sullivan,  E.  S.  Forster, 
Winlock,  Cowles,  Wright,  Hooper,  Robinson,  Todd,  Fer- 
guson, Tracy,  Daniel,  Fleming,  Richard  Uren,  H.  H.  Mildon, 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  61 

T.  W.  Edwards,  John  Mildon,  Jeff  Day,  J,  Q.  McKernan, 
and  E.  F.  Douglass. 

In  Keweenaiv  County,  since  1854,  the  Central  Mine  Com- 
pany has  been  working  on  a  magnificent  fissure-vein,  which 
has  produced  extraordinary  masses  of  native  copper.  This 
mine  is  situated  under  the  greenstone,  about  midway  between 
Eagle  River  and  Eagle  Harbor;  it  has  long  pursued  the 
even  tenor  of  its  way ;  it  has  been  eminently  prosperous — a 
beacon  light  in  the  land.  Under  Mr.  Mills,  as  president,  and 
Mr.  Petrie,  as  superintendent,  and  Mr.  Dunstone,  mine  cap- 
tain, it  has  occupied  a  most  enviable  position  for  years.  It 
has  divided  among  its  stockholders  one  million  dollars. 

The  Phoenix  (old  Eagle  River)  is  a  promising  mass  vein 
to-day,  brought  out  by  F.  G.  White,  late  superintendent. 

ISLE   ROY  ALE. 

This  "  Lone  Isle  of  the  Sea."  has  been  the  theatre  of  active 
mine  operations  during  the  last  two  years.  Under  the  super- 
vision of  Messrs.  Hardie  and  Cole,  the  Island  mine  has  been 
partially  developed  upon  a  conglomerate  belt,  near  Siskirvit 
Bay. 

THE   MINONG   MINING   COMPANY    OF   DETROIT, 

was  organized  December  16th,  1874,  with  a  capital  of  one 
million  dollars.  It  owns  1.455  acres  of  land  in  sections  22^ 
23,  26,  27,  34  and  35,  township  66  north,  range  35  west, 
lying  at  the  head  of  McCargo's  cove,  on  Isle  Roy  ale.  These 
lands  are  traversed  by  heavy  metalliferous  belts  and  trans- 
verse veins,  carrying  copper,  elevated  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  above  the  lake,  and  distant  but  an  average  of  half  a  mile 
from  the  cove,  which  is  about  two  and  a  half  miles  long  and 
one  thousand  feet  wide,  forming  a  perfectly  land  locked  har- 
bor. The  exploration  on  this  property,  previous  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  company,  was  induced  by  the  discovery  of 
a  very  large  amount  of  ancient  mine  work,  which  had  been 
done  at  some  remote  period  in  the  past,  the  date  of  which 
was  antecedent  to  the  traditions  of  the  Indians,  and  by  a  race 
who  worked  only  with  stone  hammers  and  fire.  The  clean- 


62  v          MINERAL   RESOURCES 

ing  out  of  sections  of  the  transverse  veins  they  had  worked 
to  the  depth  of  twenty-five  feet,  gave  fine  specimens  of  bar- 
rel copper,  and  in  the  opening  of  a  pit  sixteen  and  a  half 
feet  deep  on  the  belt,  there  were  found  boulders  of  copper, 
and  one  mass,  weighing  5,720  pounds,  bearing  ancient  ham- 
mer marks,  and  evidently  too  heavy  for  those  people  to  carry 
away.  The  Minong  Company  did  not  commence  work  until 
about  the  middle  of  June  last;  they  had  to  construct  every 
thing  to  work  with,  having  but  the  dense  thicket  of  brush 
and  timber  at  their  first  landing.  They  have  worked  from 
that  time  to  the  middle  of  November,  a  daily  average  of  forty 
men,  and  have  shipped  to  Detroit  54,287  pounds  of  mass  and 
barrel  copper,  and  adding  to  this  the  5,720  pound  mass,  spoken 
of  above,  which  came  from  the  same  open  cut,  they  have 
60,007  pounds,  producing  88  per  cent,  of  ingot,  leaving  at  the 
mine  over  three  hundred  tons  of  very  rich  stamp  rock. 
They  have  also  erected  a  substantial  dock,  store,  warehouse, 
and  agent's,  boarding  and  tenement  houses  sufficient  to  accom- 
modate seventy  men  and  families  for  the  winter.  This  work, 
with  its  promising  results,  has  satisfied  the  stockholders  of 
the  value  of  their  property,  the  working  of  which  will  be  by 
an  increased  force,  and  by  the  addition  of  machinery  for 
stamping  and  hoisting,  thereby  insuring  regular  products 
and  with  more  economy.  The  business  office  of  the  company 
is  located  at  Detroit,  and  the  following  gentlemen  are  the 
officers  for  the  ensuing  year: 

Directors — S.  G.  Wight,  John  Belknap,  C.  M.  Garrison, 
Charles  Root,  George  W.  Gilbert,  Hiram  Walker,  I.  B.  Wayne. 

President— S.  G.  Wight. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer — C.  M.  Garrison. 

Sometime  between  1850-55  mining  enterprises  were  con- 
ducted on  the  Island  on  Rock  Harbor.  Several  buildings 
were  erected,  including  a  stamp  mill.  Mr.  C.  C.  Douglass 
was  at  one  time  a  superintendent  there.  But  later  the  whole 
island  was  deserted,  not  a  living  soul  remaining.  We  trust 
that  this  rich  island  will  soon  become  a  prosperous  mining 
centre. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  63 

Iii  the  summer  of  1846  we  saw  a  "half-breed11  woman  who 
had  been  Crusoeing  on  the  island.  She  and  her  husband  had 
been  placed  on  the  island  in  charge  of  property.  Owing  to 
the  wreck  of  the  brig  Astor  in  the  fall  of  1845,  supplies 
failed  to  reach  them.  Long  they  waited  for  succor,  but 
in  vain,  winter  came  on,  snow  covered  the  ground,  and 
ice  gathered  on  the  waters;  then  this  lone  pair  were 
left  to  their  fate  on  this  savage,  desolate  island  u  out  of 
humanity's  reach.11  The  shrieking  winds,  as  they  swept 
through  the  fir  trees,  and  the  black  billows  of  the  stormy 
lake,  spending  their  sullen  fury  upon  the  rocky  coasts,  were 
the  only  sounds  that  could  greet  the  ear  during  the  long, 
long  dark  winter  of  that  high  northern  latitude.  For  com- 
panionship they  must  depend  upon  each  other.  But,  before 
the  winter  was  half  spent,  the  husband  sickened  and  died,  and 
the  poor  woman  was  left  absolutely  alone.  Wrapping  the 
remains  of  her  dead  husband  in  a  blanket,  she  removed  them 
from  the  hut  and  deposited  them  in  the  snow,  where  frozen 
solid  like  a  pillar  of  ice,  they  were  preserved  until  the  return 
of  spring  permitted  of  other  burial.  The  widow  passed  the 
long  winter  as  best  she  could,  subsisting  upon  the  flesh  of 
rabbits,  which  she  managed  to  snare.  Her  bereavement, 
hardships,  and  the  terrors  of  isolation,  wonderful  as  it  may 
seem,  did  not  affect  her  health  or  mind.  She  was  taken  off 
from  the  island  in  the  spring,  and  was  happy  enough  when 
she  reached  the  main  land. 

SILVER. 

In  the  copper  mines  we  find  native  silver  in  considerable 
quantities,  associated  with  the  copper  in  the  same  veins  or 
lodes.  But  (unless  we  except  the  recent  discoveries  at  Iron 
river,)  no  distinctive  silver  veins  of  value  have  been,  as  yet, 
discovered  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior.  At  one  time 
the  so-called  silver  lead  regions  of  the  Huron  mountains 
•promised  well;  but  the  value  of  that  section,  with  so  many 
possibilities,  must  still  be  written  down  not  proven.  From 
our  knowledge  of  the  geology  of  the  west  coast  of  America, 


64  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


we  are  of  the  number  who  believe  in  the  Huron  mountain 
region.  Although  not  a  prophet,  nor  the  son  of  a  prophet, 
yet  we  believe  that  before  the  lapse  of  another  decade,  those 
mountains  will  cast  their  evening  shadows  upon  busy  mining 
camps. 

Even  in  the  copper  district  proper,  why  may  we  not  hope  to 
find  native  silver  veins?  If  the  occurrence  of  this  precious 
metal  is  so  common  in  almost  every  copper  vein,  or  lode,  from 
the  extremity  of  Keweenaw  point  to  the  Porcupines,  why 
may  it  not  occur  somewhere  alone  in  paying  quantities? 
Will  some  learned  gentleman  rise  and  explain? 

At  the  old  Lake  Superior  mine,  in  1846,  we  saw  a  great 
deal  of  silver,  which  had  been  raised  from  a  drift  under  Eagle 
river.  It  had  been  washed  and  rounded,  and  that  which  we 
saw,  in  a  quart  measure,  was  of  about  the  size  of  hickory 
nuts.  It  was  placer  silver;  it  had  been  removed  from  the 
vein  by  water;  tumbled  about  and  polished  and  finally  pre- 
cipitated into  a  seam  in  the  rock. 

The  J£MC£S  of  silver  at  the  Cliff  mine  were  sometimes  very 
large.  Although  the  miners,  doubtless,  carried  off  the  largest 
proportion  of  this  metal,  yet  the  mine  agent  was  enabled  to 
save  a  good  many  barrels  each  year.  We  believe  the  largest 
chunk  or  nugget  of  pure  native  silver  ever  found  in  the 
county  weighed  eighty  pounds.  In  the  mine  the  silver  was 
generally  found  in  pockets  or  vuggs.  Once  in  the  night  a 
party  of  miners  fired  their  blasts,  and  after  the  smoke  had 
cleared  away  they  returned  to  their  work.  What  was  their 
surprise  to  find  a  small  cavern  opened  by  their  shots;  with  his 
candle  in  hand  one  miner  crept  into  the  hole;  his  exclama- 
tions of  surprise  and  astonishment  caused  his  companions  to 
poke  their  heads  in.  Here  was  a  cavern  several  feet  in  extent, 
whose  walls  glittered  with  sparkling  calcspar  and  pure  white 
silver.  It  was  like  a  fairy  dream — like  the  palace  of  Aladdin. 
The  "boys"  after  sufficiently  admiring  this  exquisite  cave 
lying  one  thousand  feet  under  the  ground,  where  no  ray  of 
sunlight  had  ever  penetrated,  set  to  work  with  picks  to  spoil 
it.  Their  cupidity  out- weighed  admiration;  powder  keg 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  65 

after  powder  keg  of  the  pure  silver  was  gathered,  and  hid 
away  under  stull  pieces  until  such  time  as  it  could  be  carried 
out  of  the  mine  without  detection.  But  the  lynx-eyed  mine 
captain,  next  morning  saw  the  cave — the  marks  of  the  pick 
on  the  walls  in  the  silver  yet  adhering — and  demanded  of 
the  "boys"  where  they  had  concealed  the  treasure.  They 
were  compelled  to  disgorge  and  there  remained  to  them 
only  the  remembrance  of  that  gorgeous  chamber.  What 
became  of  the  gnomes  whose  favorite  chamber  this  doubt- 
less was,  did  not  transpire. 

The  Portage  Lake  mines,  all  of  them,  produce  more  or  less 
silver.  Silver-pickers  are  employed  at  most  of  the  stamp 
mills  to  pick  out  the  small  scale  silver  from  the  copper. 

The  old  Minnesota  mine  was  celebrated  for  its  silver  waifs; 
from  first  to  last,  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars  of  silver  must 
have  been  raised  from  the  mine;  but  the  honest  miner,  as 
usual,  came  in  for  the  lion's  share.  The  moral  tone  is  that  it 
would  be  wrong  to  steal  copper,  but  legitimate  to  pocket 
silver. 

At  the  present  time  there  is  a  strong  probability,  if  not 
certainty,  that  the  Iron  river  district,  in  Ontonagon  county, 
will  prove  to  be  the  La  Plata  so  long  pre-shadowed  by  the 
mineral  seers  of  the  country. 

Shall  we  ever  find  gold  upon  the  south  shore  of  the  lake  ? 
is  a  question  often  asked.  There  is  a  tradition  that  Dr. 
Houghton  did  find  it  somewhere,  either  in  the  Huron  moun- 
tains or  in  the  Porcupines.  But  if  he  did  so,  the  secret  died 
with  him.  Some  two  years  ago  the  writer  and  a  friend — an 
expert  chemist  and  assayer — found  traces  of  gold  in  some 
rock  sent  for  treatment  from  the  Iron  river  section.  But  we 
were  incredulous.  Eighteen  months  later  we  ascertained 
that  our  specimens  had  been  salted  by  a  Californian,  who 
carries  about  with  him  a  small  vial  filled  with  gold  dust,  for 
the  deceiving  of  the  natives — the  heathen  Chinee. 

In  1846,  certain  of  the  most  sanguine  explorers  were  hope- 
ful of  finding  gold  mines.  The  party  to  which  the  writer 
was  attached  was  sent  to  explore  the  country  lying  east  of 


66  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

L'Anse,  or  south  of  Huron  Bay,  in  search  of  copper  and 
gold.  We  encamped  at  the  Methodist  mission;  leaving  our 
geologist,  who  was  of  the  kind  who  never  went  into  the 
woods,  and  who  judged  of  the  vein  phenomena  by  the  speci- 
mens brought  to  him  by  the  practical  explorer,  we  plunged 
into  the  woods.  Before  night  we  had  crossed  the  Huron 
river  and  arrived  at  an  inviting  region  of  slate  and  trap  rock, 
with  strong  indications  of  mineral.  In  fact,  a  massive  vein 
of  quartz,  with  some  yellow  ore,  was  discovered,  cutting 
through  a  high  knob.  Only  a  partial,  hasty  examination 
could  be  made  before  night  set  in.  It  was  determined  to 
encamp  near  the  spotr  so  that  a  thorough  examination  could 
be  made  next  morning  Much  excited  over  the  supposed 
discovery  of  a  gold  bearing  vein,  we  hurried  .down  the  slope, 
and  camped  by  the  side  of  a  pool  of  water  in  a  cedar  swamp. 
After  partaking  of  a  hasty  cup  of  tea,  bread,  and  a  bit  of 
pork,  roasted  on  a  split  stick  by  the  fire,  we  sought,  in  the 
dark,  to  erect  some  sort  of  shelter  from  the  impending  storm. 
In  the  deep  recesses  of  the  woods,  nature  was  quiet  and  calm 
as  death;  but  we  could  hear  the  deep-muttered  thunder  in 
the  southwest.  We  had  but  one  small  hatchet,  and  it  was 
no  easy  task  to  procure  material  for  the  most  impromptu 
hut.  In  the  pitch  dark,  our  feeble  camp  fire  sent  its  rays 
only  a  little  way  out  into  the  gloom.  We  succeeded  in  cut- 
ting two  poles,  reclining  them  against  a  giant  cedar,  and 
heaping  a  few  boughs  upon  them.  Then  we. crawled  under 
our  wigwam  (there  was  a  brace  of  us),  which,  by  the  way, 
was  just  spacious  enough  to  cover  our  heads  and  shoulders, 
most  ungenerously  leaving  our  inferior  parts  exposed  to  the 
weather.  Now,  the  thunder  rolled  right  over  our  heads,  and 
the  vivid  lightning,  illuminating  the  swamp,  caused  every 
mossy  trunk  to  resemble  a  weird  spectre.  The  rain  came 
pattering  down  very  gently  at  first,  but  soon  the  burdened 
trees  began  to  drop  big  drops  upon  our  frail  tenement,  which 
drops  finally  became  streams.  We  soon  became  drenched 
and  almost  afloat  in  a  pool  of  water,  and  had  to  flounder  out 
and  stand  up  in  the  mud.  We  stirred  up  the  flickering  fire, 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  67 

and  amused  ourselves  all  night  heaping  dead  limbs  upon  it 
and  trying  to  keep  ourselves  warm.  The  thunder  storm 
passed  over  toward  the  north-east,  but  the  rain  poured  down 
steadily  the  livelong  night.  The  profound  gloom,  the  dark- 
ness that  could  be  felt,  the  utter,  helpless  misery  of  those 
long,  dreary  hours,  in  that  cedar  swamp,  will  never  be  for- 
gotten. A  half-drowned  rat,  a  barnyard  fowl  after  a  rain 
storm,  are  feeble  figures  to  convey  an  idea' of  our  appearance 
when  day  broke.  Our  zeal  as  volunteer  explorers  was  much 
moderated;  yet  we  returned  to  the  quartz  vein,  filled  our 
haversack  with  the  specimens,  and  started  at  once  for  L' Anse. 
The  rain  continued  to  pour  down,  and  the  thick  underbrush 
was  loaded  with  water,  so  that  our  tramp  in  was  a  continuous 
bath,  for,  if  the  rain  falling  direct  did  not  soak  us  enough, 
the  wet  brush  finished  the  business  by  rubbing  it  in. 

We  reached  camp  at  noon,  jaded  and  hungry,  but  we  had 
courage  enough  left  to  place  our  bag  of  gold  specimens 
triumphantly  at  the  feet  of  our  learned  professor  of  geology 
and  mineralogy.  After  skillful  manipulation  with  the  blow 
pipe  and  acids,  he  pronounced  our  quartz,  quartz;  our  yellow 
mineral,  iron  pyrites.  Thus  ended  our  first  gold  discovery. 
So  disgusted  were  all  concerned,  that  we  broke  up  camp  and 
sailed  for  Copper  Harbor.  Here  our  geologist  left  us.  The 
next  time  we  saw  the  learned  gentleman  he  was  keeping 
a  corner  grocery  in  San  Francisco,  in  1849.  A  two  years' 
exploration  with  pick  and  shovel,  in  the  plains  of  California, 
taught  us  the  appearance  and  value  of  the  yellow  dross,  in 
more  senses  than  one. 

GENERAL  REMARKS.  f 

The  old  adage,  all  is  not  gold  that  glitters,  has  an  appli- 
cation to  the  copper  mines  of  Lake  Superior.  All  the  mines 
are  not  Calumets  or  Cliffs.  There  are  many  idle  mines  in  the 
region  —  and  there  have  been  many  lamentable  failures. 
Why  is  it  so?  Many  are  the  causes  of  disaster  and  failure. 
We  cannot  stop  to  enumerate  them  all;  we  will  merely 
allude  to  some  of  them. 


68  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

In  the  first  place,  when  the  country  was  first  opened  to 
mining,  the  geology  of  the  range  was  little  understood,  and 
the  contents  of  veins  were  different  in  form  from  what  had 
been  seen  in  other  countries.  The  old  miner  from  Europe 
was  about  as  much  at  loss  how  to  manipulate  the  native  cop- 
per as  the  veriest  tyro  of  native  growth.  Many  mining 
ventures,  therefore,  came  to  nought  for  want  of  sufficient 
knowledge.  • 

In  the  second  place,  all  veins  or  lodes  that  are  productive 
at  one  place,  or  for  a  short  distance,  are  not  equally  so 
throughout  the  entire  length.  Hence,  mines  opened  upon 
well  known  veins  or  lodes  of  repute,  in  their  extension  may 
find  the  vein  rock  so  poor  that  the  amount  of  copper  raised 
will  not  cover  expenses. 

In  the  third  place,  the  length  of  the  portion  of  vein  or 
lode  owned  or  worked  by  a  company,  though  the  mine  may 
be  rich,  is  insufficient  to  warrant  large  expenditures  for  mine 
plant,  and  machinery.  Hence  a  narrow,  contracted  policy 
of  operation,  which  soon  ends  in  the  closing  of  the  mine.  A 
consolidation  with  neighboring  mines,  similarly  situated, 
would  be  an  effectual  remedy  in  such  a  case,  and  if  followed 
in  many  instances  that  could  be  adduced,  would  insure  suc- 
cessful mines. 

In  the  fourth  place,  many  stamp  lodes  of  good  percentage 
of  copper  are  idle  to-day,  because  the  managers  have  not  had 
the  boldness  or  capital  sufficient  to  provide  adequate  stamp 
machinery. 

And  lastly,  undoubtedly  there  has  been  opened,  in  specu- 
lative times,  mines  based  upon  lean  and  hungry  lodes,  with- 
out merit  of  any  kind,  and  whose  fate  it  was  to  absorb  and 
dissipate  all  the  capital  ever  ventured  in  them. 

We  deem  these  statements,  made  in  all  fairness,  due  to  the 
copper  mines  and  to  strangers  and  legislators  who  visit  the 
country. 

The  copper  mines  of  Lake  Superior  do  not  very  much  dif- 
fer from  any  or  all  mining  districts.  Mining  for  the  more 
valuable  metals  has  always  been  speculative  in  character  and 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


always  will  be  to  the  end  of  time.  It  is  in  the  nature  of 
things.  Wherever  there  is  much  uncertainty  and  occasional 
enormous  gains — prizes  —  in  any  enterprise,  there  will  be 
found  the  spirit  of  speculation — if  not  gambling.  One  big 
bonanza  like  the  Comstock  lode  excites  whole  communities, 
and  peoples  deserts.  One  big  conglomerate  mine  like  the 
Calumet  &  Hecla  fires  the  imaginations  of  all,  and  the  waste 
places  of  the  Trap  range  teem  (like  dragon's  teeth)  with  other 
conglomerates,  which  shall  rival  the  successful  Calumet. 

The  business  of  copper  mining  on  Lake  Superior  has 
passed  through  many  and  great  vicissitudes.  Doubt,  uncer- 
tainty and  gloom  have  more  than  once  enshrouded  the  land. 
Yet  even  when  the  tide  of  prosperity  had  run  to  the  lowest 
ebb,  it  has  been  met  by  an  incoming  wave  which  has  carried 
this  industry  to  a  higher  point  than  it  had  previously  attained. 
The  country  is  now  blessed  with  a  large,  prominent  and  rap- 
idly increasing  population,  whose  homes  and  interests  are 
affixed  to  the  soil;  a  large  capital  has  accumulated,  and  as  the 
value  of  the  mines,  forests  and  fisheries  is  now  assured  beyond 
peradventure,  there  is  little  reason  for  the  apprehension  of 
great  calamities  and  sweeping  reverses  in  the  future. 

One  of  the  darkest  hours  we  remember  for  the  copper  min- 
ing interests,  was  the  first  year  of  the  war  on  the  Union. 
Every  one  supposed  that  the  end  had  come — that  the  mines 
must  close  down — that  nothing  was  left  to  do  but  to  shoulder 
the  musket  and  march  to  the  South.  Copper  stocks  fell  to  a 
zero  point;  nobody  would  want  our  copper,  and  it  must,  per- 
force, lie  in  the  ground.  The  price  of  ingot  copper  fell  to  17 
cents,  and  the  end  came?  No;  as  soon  as  the  government 
found  that  it  had  work  to  do,  a  large  army  and  navy  to  arm 
and  equip,  they  turned  to  our  own  copper  fields  with  eager  de- 
mand for  a  supply  of  copper,  which  could  not  be  safely  procured 
from  the  old  sources,  in  foreign  lands.  This  demand  greatly 
stimulated  mining,  and  created  active  business  in  all  kindred  de- 
partments. It  was  not  long  before  the  price  of  copper 
attained  a  highly  remunerative  point,  and  before  the  war 
closed  it  reached  the  unprecedented  figure  of  50  cents  per 


70  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

pound,  or  $1,000  per  ton!     This  paid?     Yes,  indeed!     But 
there  were  drawbacks  to  this  prosperity.     The  demands  for 
the  army,  the  demands  for  miners  and  all  other  kinds  of  labor, 
owing  to  the  vigorous  working  of   the  old  mines  and  the 
springing  up  of  new  ones  in  every  direction,  explorations  and 
speculative   movements  rendered  labor  scarce,  independent, 
costly  and  refractory.     Everything  cost  enormously;  every- 
body was  making  money,  but  all  wanted  more.     There  was  a 
great  blossoming  of  new  men — superintendents  and  captains 
of  mines,  promoted  instanter  from  the  ranks.     It  was  a  troub- 
lous time.     Intemperance,  vice  and   crime  ruled   the   hour. 
Strikes  among  workmen,  upon  a  large,  combined  scale,  were 
common  during  the  winter  months,  and  mine  officers  were 
much  exercised  in  their  endeavors  to  control  and  regulate  the 
unreasoning,  turbulent  masses.     Violent  assaults,  maiming, 
and  even  manslaughter,  were  not  uncommon  occurrences, 
and  he  who  did  not  go  around  with  a  good  revolver  was 
deemed  foolhardy.     At  one  time  an  appeal  was  made  to  the 
Governor  for  arms,  and  fifty  stand  of  muskets  were  sent  for- 
ward.    Mine  officers  were  drilled  in  the  manual,  ostensibly 
for  the  purpose  of  fitting  themselves  for  service  in  the  army, 
but   really  to    be   prepared   to  resist  internal   commotions. 
Miners  and  laborers  were  composed  of  several  nationalities, 
but  chiefly  of   Cornish,  Irish  and  Germans.     The  first  two 
classes  were  bitterly  hostile,  and  often  assumed  a  belligerent 
attitude  in  force,  or  would  indulge  in  secret  personal  attacks, 
which  often  terminated  in  murder.     The  older  pioneers  will 
recollect  the  trouble  which  occurred  at  the  Minnesota  mine, 
where  the  Irish  and  Cornish  contended  with  desperate  intent. 
At  Portage  Lake  these  Greeks  and  Trojans,  long  before  the 
war,  occasionally  arrayed  their  forces,  armed  with  picks,  ham- 
mers, guns  and  stones,  and  marching  down  the  Portage  hill 
by  different  paths,  entered  the  village  of  Houghton  at  ex- 
treme ends,  halted,  and  challenged  each  other  to  come  on. 
"  Lay  on,  McDuff,  and  damned  be  he  who  first  cries  hold, 
enough,"  was  the  cry;  third  parties  always  interfered  and 
prevented  a  collision  en  masse;  but  later  in  the  day,  individ- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  71 


uals  and  squads,  infuriated  by  villainous  Pike's  whisky,  would 
indulge  in  frequent  bloody  combats.  At  night  the  most 
peaceable  citizens  were  knocked  down  and  beaten  to  a  jelly. 
At  one  time  the  Pewabic  stamp  mill  was  threatened  with 
sack.  Some  offended  individuals  proposed  to  clean  out  that 
establishment  one  bright  Sunday  morning.  Being  warned 
in  time,  the  superintendent,  Mr.  T.  Forster,  prepared  for  the 
emergency.  He  called  in  his  men,  armed  them  with  chunks 
of  stamp  copper,  barricaded  the  doors,  and  attached  the  hose 
to  the  boilers,  so  as  to  be  able  to  deluge  the  assailants  with 
hot  water.  He  was  prepared  to  give  his  foes  a  warm  recep- 
tion, but  they  did  not  venture  down  the  hill;  they  doubtless 
smelt  danger  in  the  wind. 

About  the  second  year  of  the  war,  laborers  became  so 
scarce  that  the  mining  corporations  determined  to  send  an 
agent  to  Europe  to  induce  immigration.  An  agent  actually 
went  to  Sweden  and  contracted  with  a  large  number  of  men 
who  finally  made  their  appearance  at  Portage  Lake.  They 
were  billeted  off  to  the  several  companies,  but  nine  out  of  ten 
refused  to  go  to  work  or  to  abide  by  their  solemn  contracts 
made  in  their  own  country.  They  had  reached  this  free  and 
independent  land  without  cost  to  themselves,  and  they  pro- 
posed to  act  a  freeman's  part  and  do  just  as  they  pleased.  The 
fact  that  the  mining  companies  had  expended  $90,000  in  their 
transportation,  and  that  they  were  required  to  work  at  good 
wages,  only  a  sufficient  length  of  time  to  reimburse  those 
who  had  assisted  them  to  reach  this  country,  was  of  no 
importance — not  worthy  of  a  moment's  consideration.  But 
one  good  came  out  of  this  venture  at  the  time.  Some  forty 
of  the  men  volunteered  to  fill  the  draft  quota  and  were 
marched  off  to  the  wars,  where  some  ill-natured  ones  chari- 
tably hoped  they  might  become  food  for  confederate  gun- 
powder. This  was  the  first  introduction  of  the  Scandinavian 
upon  Lake  Superior.  Its  later  fruits  may  be  seen  to-day  in 
the  large,  industrious  class  of  this  people  now  settled  in  the 
copper  and  iron  mines.  They  are  generally  esteemed  as  good 
citizens. 


72  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

But,  with  the  war  ended,  a  more  orderly  and  peaceable  era 
succeeded.  Dull  times  followed,  the  price  of  copper  fell; 
many  mines  suspended  operations,  and  labor  was  at  a  dis- 
count. Hence,  wise  men  became  prudent  and  circumspect 
in  conduct — they  were  obliged  to  or  starve.  For  the  last 
decade  there  has  been  no  general  strikes  in  the  copper  mines, 
even  in  prosperous  times.  Indeed,  we  should  fail  in  duty 
should  we  neglect  to  state  that  the  laboring  classes  at  the 
mines  are  deserving  of  praise  for  the  good  order,  industry 
and  temperance  which,  as  a  class,  they  have  maintained  for 
many  years.  Their  good  example  might  well  be  imitated  in 
many  mining  districts  that  might  be  named,  but  notably,  in 
the  coal  fields  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  Some  of  the  very 
brightest  children  in  the  public  schools  are  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  miners;  and  another  thing  must  be  said  in 
commendation  of  these,  our  worthy  citizens;  namely,  they 
do  diligently  attend  to  the  scriptural  injunction — "increase 
and  multiply  and  replenish  the  earth.'1  With  a  fine,  healthy 
climate  to  aid  them,  their  achievements  in  this  line  are  mar- 
velous. 

The  rise  and  fall  of  prices  had  much  to  do  with  the  success 
of  the  copper  mines.  We  note  the  fluctations  for  a  series  of 
years,  as  follows: 

July,  1860 21-J-  cents  per  pound. 

"    1861 17!     "      " 

"     1862 2%    "      " 

"     1863 32      "      "        " 

"     1864 55      "      " 

After  the  war  the  price   fell  to  17  cents,   and  copper  was  a 
drug  in  the  market.     It  now  sells  at  22  to  24  cents. 

Nothing  in  the  copper  mines  of  Lake  Superior  is  more 
remarkable  and  significant  than  the  immense  progress  that 
has  been  made  in  mining  and  kindred  branches  within  the 
last  fifteen  years.  The  rude  skid  shaft  lining;  the  rickety 
ladder,  the  awkward  kibble,  the  clumsy  chains,  the  whim, 
the  wheelbarrow,  the  horse  and  cart,  and  the  old  Cornish 
stamps  have  all  been  superseded.  In  their  places  we  find 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  73 

the  underground  tram- way;  the  smooth-timbered  shaft  laid 
with  Trail,  the  man-engine  to  carry  the  men  up  and  down  the 
mine;  the  eas}r  running  skip-car  which  dumps  itself;  the  wire- 
rope  of  Roebling's  best;  the  powerful  steam  pumping  and 
hoisting  engine  with  friction  gear;  the  surface  automatic  rail- 
way which  rapidly  moves  the  car  from  shaft  to  rock-house 
"  like  a  thing  of  life;"  the  vast  rock-houses  with  steam  ham- 
mer and  systems  of  Blake's  stone-breakers  preparing  the 
coarse  stamp  rock  for  further  treatment  at  the  stamps;  the 
efficient  steam  railroad  carrying  the  mine  product  to  the  dis- 
tant mill;  the  stamp  mill,  an  immense  building  filled  with 
a  maze  of  obedient  machinery  with  steam  stamps,  each  head 
capable  of  pulverizing  one  hundred  tons  of  hard  copper-tied 
rock  into  the  consistency  of  fine  sand  and  slime,  each  twenty- 
four  hours,  washing  and  separating  the  copper  at  the  same 
time,  are  marvels  of  improvement. 

This  progress  has  been  made  under  very  trying  circum- 
stances, at  the  cost  of  infinite  toil,  expense  and  discourage- 
ments. The  miners  found  the  country  a  howling  wilderness 
—remote  from  the  centres  of  population  and  supply ;  half  of 
the  year  it  was  a  region  buried  in  snow,  with  the  only  outlet, 
the  lakes  and  rivers,  closed  by  ice.  If  to-day  our  copper 
mines  are  prosperous,  it  is  owing,  under  Providence,  to  their 
intrinsic  worth,  and  the  skill  and  indomitable  energy  of  the 
people,  aided  by  non-resident  capitalists. 

The  outlook  for  the  future  is  bright.  New  discoveries  will 
be  made;  the  country  is  yet  in  its  infancy  and  freshness. 
Not  a  tithe  of  the  mineral  ranges  has  been  uncovered,  and 
there  remains  to  the  generations  to  come  ample  work  and 
almost  unlimited  wealth. 

The  Upper  Peninsula  of  Michigan — the  Superior  country 
—is  destined  to  become  a  wealthy,  populous  and  powerful 
commonwealth. 


74 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


DIVIDENDS  PAID. 


The  following  table  shows  the  amount  of  dividends  paid  to 
shareholders  by  the  several  mines  which  have  been  profitably 
wrought,  together  with  amount  of  assessments  and  surplus: 


Name  of  Company  Assessments. 

Calumet  and  Hecla .$800,000 

Pittsburgh  and  Boston  (Cliff) 110,000 

Minnesota 440,000 

Quincy ,. 200,000 

Central 100,000 

Pewabic ;•'. 240,000 

National , 150.000 

Franklin 380,000 

Ridge 200,000 

Copper  Falls .. , . , 500,000 


Dividends. 

$9,440,000 

2,280,000 

1,750,000 

1,990.000 

920,000 

400.000 

300,000 

240,000 

150,000 

100,000 


Surplus. 
$4,000,000 

20,666 

385,000 
140,000 
25,000 
40,000 
10.000 
43,000 
45,000 


Totals $3,120,000      $17,570,000      $4,708,000 

Showing  for  the  ten  mines  named,  an  excess  in  dividends 
and  surplus  over  expenditures  of  $19,158,000.  Ten  other 
mines  which  have  produced  a  very  considerable  amount  of 
copper,  but  have  not  yet  attained  a  dividend  paying  basis, 
have  called  assesments  to  the  amount  of  $6,760,000.  The 
mines  not  enumerated  in  the  dividend  paying  list,  produced 
in  1875  a  little  over  4,000  tons  of  mineral,  worth  $1,500,000. 
Of  these  last  named  mines,  some  are  rapidly  nearing  their 
first  dividends.  The  Osceola,  in  particular,  gives  promise  of 
a  large  production  in  the  future.  The  Franklin,  which  paid 
its  last  dividend  in  1872,  is  again  rising  into  prominence,  and 
the  Atlantic,  though  not  yet  a  dividend  paying  mine,  ranks 
fourth  in  the  amount  of  mineral  raised. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  there  has  been  a  steady  increase  of 
production  since  1867,  and  especially  in  the  Portage  Lake 
district;  Keweenaw  county  holds  its  own,  but  there  is 
a  slight  decrease  in  Ontonagon,  as  compared  with  1873. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


STATEMENT  OF  COPPER  PRODUCT  FROM   1845   TO  1874. 

Tons. 

1845  to  1854 7,642 

1854  to  1858 f 11,312 

1858 4,100 

1859 4,200 

1860 : 6,000 

1861 7,500 

1862 9,962 

1863 8,548 

1864 8,472 

1865 10,791 

1866 10,376 

1867 11,735 

1868  13,049 

1869 15,288 

1870 16,183 

1871 16,071 

1872 15,166 

1873 18,638 

1874 22,225 

1875 22,802 


Total 240,060 


APPROXIMATE  STATEMENT  OF  INGOT  COPPER  PRODUCED),  AND  ITS  VALUE. 


Tons. 

1845  to  1858 13,955 

1858 3,500 

1859 3,500 

1860 4,800 

18.61 6,000 

1862 8,000 

1863 6,500 

1864 6,500 

1865 7,000 

1866 7,000 

1867 8,200 

1868 9,985 

1869 12,200 

1870 12,946 

1871 , 12,857 

1872 12,132 

1873 14,910 

1874 .  „. 17,780 

1875 18,352 


Value. 
$9,000,500 
1,886,000 
1,890,000 
2,610,000 
3,337,500 
3,402.000 
4,420,000 
6,110,000 
5,145,000 
4,760,000 
4,140,000 
4  592,000 
5,368.000 
5,696.240 
6,171,360 
7,774,720 
8,200,500 
8,180,800 
8,390,860 


Total 176,174  $101,075,480 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


TABULAR  STATEMENT  OF  PRODUCTS. 


The    following    table    shows    the    product  of   the  Lake 
Superior  Copper  Mines  in  1875: 

PORTAGE  LAKE  AND  KEWEENAW  DISTRICTS. 

MINE.  TONS.  LBS. 

Calumet  and  Hecla 13,165  195 

Quincy 1,763  1,315 

Central  (estimated) 1,150         

Atlantic 1,089  898 

Phoenix 964  140 

Osceola 889  740 

Cliff 824  1,341 

Franklin 745  478 

Allouez 850         

Pewabic 397  1,795 

Copper  Falls 272  155 

Petherick  (estimated) 95         

From    other    mines    in    Houghton    and    Keweenaw 

Counties  (about) 250         

ONTONAGON  DISTRICT. 

Ridge 200  343 

Minnesota 109  400 

National 73  721 

Nonesuch 30  986 

Flint  Steel 21  1,548 

Adventure 18  1,380 

Aztec 10  1,410 

Rockland 9  1,073 

Bohemian 5  1,263 

Knowlton 3  1,923 

Mass 2  186 

Great  Western 640 

Total 22,941  1,930 

Total  Product  in  1874.. .                               .  22,225 


Increase  in  1875 716 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  77 

The  copper  interest  of  Houghton  and  Keweenaw  counties 
never  presented  a  more  favorable  aspect  than  now,  and  it  is 
confidently  hoped  and  believed  that  Ontouagon  will,  ere  long, 
assume  her  old  time  prominence  as  a  mining  region. 

The  Calumet  and  Hecla  is  the  great  copper  mine  of  the 
ivorld,  and  will,  without  doubt,  maintain  that  distinction  for 
many  years  to  come.  The  Quincy  and  Central  hold  their  old 
positions  as  dividend  paying  mines,  while  there  are  bright 
prospects  in  the  near  future  for  not  a  few  mines  whose  pro- 
duction thus  far  has  not  been  sufficient  to  return  to  share- 
holders the  capital  expended. 

The  gross  earnings  of  the  Calumet  and  Hecla  for  1875 
approximated  five  million  dollars!  Ninety  million  of  dollars 
represents  the  actual  yield  of  the  Lake  Superior  Copper 
Mines  since  1860,  a  period  of  fifteen  years  !  Where  can  be 
found  another  but  partially  developed  mineral  district  in  the 
world,  claiming  a  population  of  scarcely  25,000  souls,  which 
can  present  such  a  showing! 


78  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


THE  ANCIENT  COPPER  MINERS  OF  LAKE 
SUPERIOR. 


BY  JACOB    HOUGHTON. 


Geologists  now  find  that  the  antiquity  of  man  far  antedates  the  era 
assigned  to  his  creation  by  the  received  chfonology,  and  submit  the 
evidences  of  their  belief  to  an  enlightened  public  sentiment.  However 
strange  these  new  views  with  regard  to  the  origin  and  history  of  our 
race  may  appear,  they  cannot  be  disregarded.  We  must  weigh  the 
value  of  observations,  and  press  them  to  their  legitimate  conclusions. 
The  investigator  at  this  day  must  not  be  trammeled,  in  the  language  of 
Humboldt,  by  "an  assemblage  of  doefinas  bequeathed  from  one  age  to 
another" — "by  a  physical  philosophy  made  up  of  popular  errors."- 
J.  W.  FOSTER. 

The  preparation  of  this  paper  is  undertaken  at  the  urgent 
solicitation  of  the  editor  of  this  work.  The  limits  into 
which  it  is  necessary  to  condense  the  facts,  and  the  de- 
ductions therefrom,  are  unavoidably  contracted.  To  fully 
elucidate  the  subject,  and  to  present  the  comparative  proofs, 
would  require  a  work  of  many  pages,  and  involve  an  amount  • 
of  labor  that  could  be  given  only  by  those  who  have  at  their 
disposal  the  time  to  devote  to  the  most  fascinating  study  of 
the  day — the  pre-historic  races  of  man.  This  will  be  the 
more  fully  appreciated  when  the  general  statement  is  made, 
that  the  traces  which  the  ancient  copper  miners  of  Lake 
Superior  have  left  of  the  work  performed  by  them,  indicate 
an  intelligent  and  industrious  race — that  their  mining  labors 
extended  through  centuries  of  time-— that  there  was  a  gen- 
eral movement  to  the  southward,  through  a  vast  number  of 
years,  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  people — that  on  the  route 
of  this  transition  they  have  left  a  wonderful  record  of  their 
works,  proving  an  advancing  and  increasing  intelligence, 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  79 

indicated  by  the  ancient  mounds  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  the  ultimate  achievement,  in  the  erection  of  the 
massive  structures  of  Mexico  and  Central  America.  This 
advancement  is  also  indicated  in  the  lesser  arts,  in  the  grad- 
ual improvement  in  the  numbers,  forms  and  embellishments 
of  the  utensils  of  the  household,  and  of  ornaments  for  the 
person.  Therefore,  treating  the  subject  with  the  brevity 
required,  the  writer  will  make  no  excuse  for  the  use  of  postu- 
lates, while  at  the  same  time  feeling  confident  that  sufficient 
connected  proofs  exist  to  warrant  the  assumptions  that  may 
be  made. 

On  the  south  shore  of  Lake   Superior  the  works  of  the 
ancient  miners  extend  over  a  district  of  country  comprising 
what  is  known  as  the  Trap  range,  having  a  length  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  through  Keweenaw,  Houghton  and 
Ontonagon   counties,  Michigan,  with    a    varying  width  of 
from  four  to  seven  miles.     They  also  wrought  the  copper 
deposits  of  the  Trap  range  of  Isle  Royale,  covering  an  area 
of  about  forty  miles  in  length  by  an  average  of  five  miles  in 
width.     Their  mining  operations  were  crude  and  primitive. 
The  process  was  to  heat  the  embedding  rocks  by  building 
fires  on  the  outcrops  of  the  veins  or  belts,  to  partially  disin- 
tegrate the  rocks  by  contraction   produced  by  the  sudden 
throwing  on  of  water,  and  to  complete  the  removal  of  the 
pieces  of  native  copper  by  mauling  off  the  adhering  particles 
of  rock  with  stone  hammers.     This  is  attested  by  the  pres- 
ence, in  all  of  the  ancient  pits,  of  large  quantities  of  char- 
coal, and  of  numberless  hammers,  the  latter  showing  marks 
of  long  usage.     That  the  miners  had  not  advanced  to  any 
knowledge  of  the  artificial  elevation  of  water,  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  apparently,  in  all  cases,  the  pits  have  only  been 
sunk  to  a  depth  where  the  limit  of  man-power  in  bailing  out 
the  water  is  reached.     Between  the  successive  pits  are  ridges 
of  unremoved  rock  and  soil,  rather  indicating  that  they  were 
left  as  dams  to  prevent  the  water  from  passing  from  a  pit 
already  filled  with  water  into  one  in  process  of  being  wrought. 
The  pits,  the  charcoal,  the  stone  hammers  and  the  imple- 


80  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

ments  and  tools,  made  of  copper,  are  the  only  relics  left  of 
the  race  that  wrought  these  mines.  Neither  a  grave,  vestige 
of  a  habitation,  skeleton  or  bone  has  been  found.  Among 
the  Indians  inhabiting  the  region,  from  the  earliest  acquaint- 
ance of  the  white  man,  neither  tradition  or  legend  remained 
of  these  ancient  miners.  The  Indians  themselves  had  no 
knowledge  of  the  existence  of  copper  in  the  veins  and  belts, 
so  thoroughly  had  the  debris  of  ages  covered  them.  Their 
knowledge  was  confined  to  the  float  pieces  of  copper  in  the 
soil. 

When  considering  the  extent  of  country  previously  statedr 
over  which  this  mining  work  extended,  the  crude  and  slow 
process  of  the  labor  and  the  enormous  amount  of  work  per- 
formed, it  becomes  evident  that  the  work  extended  through 
centuries  of  time,  and  was  carried  on  by  a  vast  number  of 
people.  The  largest  aggregation  of  ancient  pits  yet  discovered 
is  on  what  is  known  as  the  Minong  belt  on  Isle  Royale. 
Here,  for  a  distance  of  one  and  three-fourths  miles,  and  for 
an  average  width  of  four  hundred  feet,  the  successive  pits, 
indicate  the  mining  out  of  the  belt  (solid  rock)  to  an  average 
depth  of  not  less  than  twenty  feet.  Scattered  over  this- 
ground  are  battered  stone  hammers,  numberless,  but  running 
into  the  millions. 

It  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  these  ancient  people  were 
unacquainted  with  the  advantages  of  the  division  of  labor. 
There  were  undoubtedly  miners,  bailers  of  water,  and  men 
whose  part  it  was  to  manufacture  tools  and  implements  out 
of  the  pieces  of  rough  native  copper  produced  by  the  miners. 
Others  were  engaged  in  procuring  and  transporting  food  and 
other  necessaries  of  life,  and  still  others  were  employed  in 
collecting  and  transporting  from  the  shores  of  the  lake  the 
rounded,  water-worn  boulders  of  diorite  and  porphyry,  which 
were  used  by  the  miners  as  hammers  and  sledges. 

Many  of  these  stone  hammers  have  been  grooved  by 
manual  attrition  or  impact  for  the  purpose  of  fastening  them 
into  withes  or  split  handles,  but  by  far  the  greater  number 
are  unwrought.  rounded  boulders  which  have  been  held  in 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  81 

the  hand  when  in  use.  Mr.  A.  C.  Davis,  now  of  the  Minong 
mine,  informed  me  that  at  one  place,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Ontonagon  river,  he  had  seen  quite  an  area  of  ground  strewn 
with  stone  chips  and  broken  and  discarded  pieces  of  diorite 
and  porphyry,  indicating  it  to  have  been  a  workshop  for  pre- 
paring the  hammers  before  being  transported  inland. 

The  ancient  miners  made  few  mistakes  in  the  selection  of 
deposits  to  be  wrought.  In  almost  every  instance  in  the 
places  where  they  had  carried  on  extensive  mine  work,  have 
been  wrought  the  successful  mines  of  these  latter  days.  This 
fact  is  often  quoted  to  advance  the  idea  that  those  ancient 
people  were  gifted  with  some  mysterious  knowledge  by  which 
they  were  able  to  discover  and  trace  out  mineral  veins  or 
lodes.  This  day,  when  the  divining  rod  is  lost  to  faith,  and 
the  mysteries  of  the  alchemist  have  been  opened  to  full 
light  by  the  science  of  chemistry,  should  be  too  late  for  such 
a  superstition.  The  explorers  of  to-day  have,  as  aids  to  dis- 
covery, the  dip  and  the  traverse  needles,  and  still  the  most 
experienced  and  observing  of  them  in  the  reconnoisance  of 
the  surface  which  overlies  beds  of  magnetic  iron  ore,  where 
the  needles  develop  the  most  activity,  are  simply  enabled  to 
approximate  conclusions,  and  are  only  satisfied  when  a  full 
development  has  been  made  by  a  system  of  costeaning.  It 
may  be  considered  improbable  that  the  ancient  miners  pos- 
sessed any  aid  approaching  to  the  value  of  the  magnetic 
needles  of  the  present  day.  It  is  far  more  reasonable  to 
assume  that  the  ancient  miners,  following  comparatively 
close  upon  the  recession  of  the  glaciers,  occupied  the  country 
at  a  period  before  the  action  of  the  elements  had  disin- 
tegrated the  surface  of  the  rocks,  and  when  the  mineral  veins 
and  beds  or  belts  were  exposed  to  view.  In  this  connection 
should  be  stated  the  fact  that,  without  exception,  the  copper 
deposits  of  the  country  are  contained  between  the  walls  of 
hard  rocks  (crystalline  trap)  that  have  served  the  purpose  of 
withstanding,  to  a  great  extent,  the  grinding  force  of  the 
glaciers.  In  consequence  of  this  protection,  they  occupy  the 
high  points  of  the  country,  and  are  now  covered  with  a  com- 


82  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

paratively  small  depth  of  soil,  the  product  of  the  disinte- 
gration of  the  rocks  themselves;  while  the  valleys  of  the 
rivers  and  the  lowlands  bordering  the  lake  have  a  greater 
depth  of  drift,  probably  the  deposits  of  the  receding  glacial 
period.  At  the  time  the  ancient  miners  were  carrying  on 
their  work,  under  a  climate  milder  and  far  more  inviting  than 
now,  these  high  points  were  destitute  of  soil  or  trees,  and  for 
timber  and  fuel  for  their  mining  work  they  resorted  to  the 
valleys  of  the  streams  and  the  lowlands  bordering  the  great 
lake — where,  also,  were  carried  on  their  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  implements  and  tools  into  which  the  pieces  of  native 
copper  thus  won  from  the  rocks  were  fabricated,  were  axes, 
knives,  chisels,  fleshers,  spears,  daggers,  arrow-heads,  awls, 
needles  and  bracelets.  These  tools  are  found  scattered  in 
wonderful  profusion,  from  Lake  Superior  to  Central  America, 
and  from  eastern  Pennsylvania  on  the  east,  to  Arizona  on 
the  west.  In  1870  I  saw,  at  Pittston,  Pennsylvania,  several 
of  these  tools,  that  had  been  recovered  from  the  soil  in  that 
vicinity  ;  and  in  a  newspaper  correspondence  from  Arizona, 
in  the  winter  of  1874-5  (Detroit  Free  Press),  I  was  not  in 
the  least  surprised  to  see  mentioned  the  discovery,  in  that  ter- 
ritory, of  what  was  called  by  the  correspondent,  a  copper  foun- 
tain. It  matters  not  for  what  purpose  the  article  may  have 
been  used  ;  the  fact  of  the  find  is  sufficient  for  the  present 
purpose.  These  tools,  however,  have  been  found  in  the  great- 
est numbers  buried  in  the  works  of  the  mound  builders 
throughout  Wisconsin,  lower  Michigan,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois, Iowa,  Missouri,  Tennessee,  West  Virginia,  Kentuck}^, 
Mississippi  and  Louisiana. 

Bernal  Diaz,  who  accompanied  Cortez  in  his  expedition  of 
the  Conquest  of  Mexico,  says  that  upon  entering  Tuspan  they 
found  that  u  each  Indian  had,  besides  his  ornaments  of  gold, 
a  copper  axe,  which  was  very  highly  polished,  with  handles 
curiously  carved,  as  if  to  serve  equally  for  an  ornament  and 
for  the  field  of  battle.  We  first  thought  these  axes  were 
made  of  an  inferior  kind  of  gold  ;  we  therefore  commenced 
taking  them  in  exchange,  and  in  the  space  of  ten  days  had 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


collected  more  than  six  hundred,  with  which  we  were  no  less 
rejoiced,  as  long  as  we  were  ignorant  of  their  real  value,  than 
the  Indians  with  our  glass  beads." 

When  Columbus,  in  his  fourth  voyage,  was  visited  at  the 
Guanaja  islands  by  a  trading  canoe  of  Yucatan,  the  crew, 
according  to  Herrara,  had  "  small  hatchets  made  of  copper, 
small  bells  and  plates.1' 

That  the  copper  from  which  these  tools,  scattered  over  such 
a  vast  area  of  country,  were  manufactured,  came  from  the 
ancient  mines  of  Lake  Superior,  does  not  admit  of  doubt. 
Although  large  and  numerous  deposits  of  copper  ore  are 
scattered  through  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Mexico,  and  Central 
and  South  America,  there  is  no  evidence  that. the  aborigines 
of  this  country  had  sufficient  metellurgical  knowledge  or 
skill  to  reduce  the  ores  to  refined  copper.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  great  Creator,  for  provision  to  the  wants  of  that 
ancient  race,  had  planted  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior  the 
only  known  workable  deposits  of  native  copper  in  the  world. 
The  term  virgin  copper  is  well  used  to  denote  its  purity. 
In  this  latter  day  it  outranks  all  others  in  the  markets  of 
the  world. 

The  occurrence  of  this  native  metal  in  segregations  of  va- 
rious weights,  enabled  the  ancient  miner  to  easily  follow  the 
deposit  and  to  readily  separate  the  pieces  of  metal  from  the 
containing  rock.  These  segregations  were  peculiarly  adapted 
for  the  use  of  the  forgers  of  the  tools.  The  extreme  ductil- 
ity of  the  metal,  due  to  its  purity,  was  also  a  provision  of 
great  advantage  to  the  ancient  artisan.  In  examining  the 
tools  that  have  been  recovered,  one  is  involuntarily  amazed 
at  the  perfection  of  workmanship  and  at  their  identity  in 
form  with  the  tools  made  for  like  purposes  and  used  at  the 
present  day,  the  prototypes  of  the  implements  of  our  present 
civilization.  The  sockets  of  the  spears,  chisels,  arrow-heads, 
knives  and  fleshers  are,  in  nearly  all  instances,  formed  as  sym- 
metrically and  perfectly  as  could  be  clone  by  the  best  smith  of 
the  present  day,  with  all  the  improved  aids  to  his  art.  The 
sockets  of  these  tools,  however,  are  in  all  instances 


84  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

left  open  on  one  side,  showing  no  attempt  at  welding  or 
brazing.  While  acknowledging  that  the  greater  portion 
of  these  tools  were  forged  from  the  native  metal,  several  in- 
vestigators of  the  subject  assert  that  many  of  them  were 
cast.  Their  position  is  principally  based  on  the  observation 
of  certain  raised  marks  upon  the  tools,  which  are  claimed  to 
be  the  marks  of  the  joining  of  molds.  The  writer  believes 
that  the  weight  of  evidence  is  against  the  theory  of  melting 
and  casting.  It  is  probable  that  the  raised  marks  are  due  to 
unequal  oxidation,  or  to  incompleteness  of  fabrication.  Had 
the  tools  which  are  made  with  sockets  been  cast,  it  is  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  the  sockets  would  have  been  cast 
complete.  Without  exception  the  sockets  are  all  open  on  one 
side;  on  the  sides  of  the  open  part  lips  are  turned  sufficient 
for  holding  the  handles.  The  presence  of  spots  of  native  sil- 
ver in  the  tools  is  against  the  theory  of  casting.  Native 
silver  to  a  large  extent  is  present  with  the  copper 
throughout  the  region,  and  always  as  a  distinct  and  separate 
metal,  occurring  in  macules  and  strings  upon  and  through 
the  copper.  In  melting  for  casting,  the  two  metals  would 
form  an  alloy,  and  as  the  proportion  of  copper  would  be  the 
greatest,  the  silver  would  not  be  visible.  In  all  of  the  relics 
of  the  mound  builders  there  is  no  evidence  of  any  vessels 
that  would  serve  the  purposes  of  crucibles  or  melting  pots. 
In  excavating  the  mounds,  pieces  of  galena  are  frequently  re- 
ported to  have  been  found  lying  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  copper  tools,  but  there  is  no  record  of  any  lead  imple- 
ments whatever.  When  it  is  considered  that  the  melting 
point  of  lead  is  only  594  degrees,  Fahrenheit,  while  that  of 
copper  is  2,548  degrees,  it  would  certainly  be  remarkable  if 
the  ancient  race  had  progressed  so  far  in  metallurgy  as  to 
melt  the  latter,  and  had  failed  to  melt  and  utilize  the  former. 
None  of  the  tools  are  hardened;  they  are  simply  pure  native 
copper.  Any  process  of  alloying  the  copper  with  tin  or  zinc  for 
the  purpose  of  hardening,  was  entirely  unknown  to  the  race. 
It  is  an  established  fact,  that  in  the  Old  World  ( a  gross 
misnomer  as  applied  to  the  age  of  the  Eastern  hemisphere^ 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  85 

when  compared  with  that  of  the  Western  hemisphere  )  man 
in  the  Stone  Age  existed  contemporaneously  with  the  Sibe- 
rian elephant,  Siberian  rhinoceros,  mammoth,  cave  bear,  etc., 
while  scientists  have  been  loth  to  concede  the  existence  of 
the  mound  builders  as  contemporary  with  the  mastodon, 
mammoth,  etc.,  of  the  Western  hemisphere.  The  mound 
builders  have  been  not  rightly,  assigned  to  the  more  recent 
Age  of  Bronze. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Foster,  in  speaking  of  the  discovery  in  Illinois 
of  a  copper  knife  and  the  bone  of  a  mastodon  in  the  same 
geological  formation,  and  separated  from  each  other  but  a 
few  miles,  says:  "  One  of  two  suppositions  is  true, — either 
that  here  has  been  an  intermingling  of  the  relics  of  two  dis- 
tinct ages,  or  that  if  the  synchronism  is  established,  man  on 
this  continent,  as  a  contemporary  with  the  mastodon,  was  far 
in  advance  in  the  mechanical  arts  of  man,  as  the  contempo- 
rary of  the  fossil  elephant  on  the  European  continent. 

The  existence  of  copper  tools  among  the  relics  of  the 
mound  builders  has  been  the  stumbling  block  in  this  matter. 
In  these  metal  implements  of  man  in  the  Stone  Age  in 
America  there  was  only  the  advance  over  the  man  of  the 
Stone  Age  in  Europe,  that  was  due  to  the  obtaining  of  native 
copper  that  could  be  hammered  and  drawn  out  into  the  de- 
sired shapes  without  any  resort  to  the  processes  of  metallurgy. 
It  was  with  a  view  to  this  point  that  I  have  throughout  this 
paper  endeavored  to  constantly  impress  upon  the  reader  the 
fact  of  the  purity  and  ductility  of  the  native  copper.  It  was 
also  for  this  that  I  so  fully  discussed  above  the  reasons  that 
lie  against  the  theory  of  the  melting  of  the  copper  and  the 
casting  of  the  tools.  The  relics  of  the  Stone  Age  left  by  the 
mound  builders  are  the  stone  hammers  used  for  mining  cop- 
per, and  for  hammering  out  copper  tools — axes,  hatchets, 
fleshers,  pestles  for  pulverizing  maize,  chisels,  knives,  arrow- 
heads, amulets,  pendants,  pipes,  etc. — a  list  of  sufficient  extent 
to  warrant  the  claim  for  the  mound  builders  of  the  high 
antiquity  of  the  Stone  Age,  and  at  least  of  a  contemporane- 
ous existence  with  the  pre-historic  man  of  Europe.  As 


86  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

proof  of  the  contemporaneous  existence  in  this  country  of 
man  with  the  mastodon,  the  following  extracts  are  given 
from  a  paper  of  the  late  Dr.  Koch,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
communicated  to  the  St.  Louis  Academy  of  Sciences: 

u  In  the  year  1839  I  discovered  and  disinterred  in  Gasconade 
county,  Missouri,  at  a  spot  in  the  bottom  of  the  Bourbeuse  river, 
where  there  was  a  spring  distant  about  four  hundred  yards 
from  the  bank  of  the  river,  the  remains  of  the  above  named 
animals.  The  bones  were  sufficiently  well  preserved  to 
enable  me  to  decide  positively  that  -they  belonged  to  the 
mastadon  giganteus.  Some  remarkable  circumstances  were 
connected  with  the  discovery.  The  greater  portion  of  these 
bones  had  been  more  or  less  burned  by  fire.  The  fire  had 
extended  but  a  few  feet  beyond  the  space  occupied  by  the 
animal  before  its  destruction,  and  there  was  more  than  suffi- 
cient evidence  on  the  spot  that  the  fire  had  not  been  an  acci- 
dental one,  but  on  the  contrary,  that  it  had  been  kindled  by 
human  agency,  and,  according  to  all  appearance,  with  the 
design  of  killing  the  huge  creature,  which  had  been  found 
mired  in  the  mud  and  in  an  entirely  helpless  condition. 
This  was  sufficiently  proven  by  the  situation  in  which  I 
found,  as  well  those  parts  of  the  bones  untouched  by  fire  as 
those  which  were  more  or  less  injured  by  it,  or  in  part  con- 
sumed; for  I  found  the  fore  legs  of  the  animal  in  a  perpen- 
dicular position  in  the  clay,  with  the  toes  attached  to  the  feet, 
just  in  the  manner  in  which  they  were  when  life  departed 
from  the  body.  I  took  particular  care  in  uncovering  the 
bones  to  ascertain  their  position  beyond  any  doubt  before  I 
removed  any  part  of  them,  and  it  appeared  during  the  whole 
excavation  fully  evident  that  at  the  time  when  the  animal  in 
question  found  its  untimely  end  the  ground  in  which  it  had 
been  mired  must  have  been  in  a  plastic  condition,  being  now 
a  grayish  colored  clay.  All  the  bones  which  had  not  been 
burned-by  the  fire  had  kept  their  original  position,  standing 
upright,  and  apparently  quite  undisturbed  in  the  clay; 
whereas  those  portions  which  had  been  extended  above  the 
surface  had  been  partially  consumed  by  the  fire,  and  the  sur- 
face of  the  clay  was  covered,  as  far  as  the  fire  had  extended, 
by  a  layer  of  wood  ashes,  mingled  with  larger  or  smaller 
pieces  of  charred  wood  and  burnt  bones,  together  with  bones 
belonging  to  the  spine,  ribs  and  other  parts  of  the  body,  which 
had  been  more  or  less  injured  by  the  fire. 

u  The  fire  appeared  to  have  been  most  destructive  around 
the  head  of  the  animal.  Some  small  remains  of  the  head 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  87 

were  left  uncons timed,  but  enough  to  show  that  they  belong- 
ed to  the  mastodon.  There  were  also  found,  mingled  with 
the  ashes  and  bones,  and  partly  protruding  out  of  them,  a 
large  number  of  broken  pieces  of  rock,  which  had  evidently 
been  carried  thither  from  the  shore  of  the  Bourbeuse  river,  to 
be  hurled  at  the  animal  by  his  destroyers,  for  the  above-men- 
tioned layer  of  clay  was  entirely  void  even  of  the  smallest 
pebbles;  whereas,  on  going  to  the  river  I  found  the  stratum 
of  clay  cropping  out  of  the  bank  and  resting  on  a  layer  of 
shelving  rocks  of  the  same  kind  as  the  fragments,  from  which 
olace  it  was  evident  they  had  been  carried  to  the  scene  of 
Action.  The  layers  of  ashes,  etc.,  varied  in  thickness  from 
tvo  to  six  inches,  from  which  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  fire 
hv\d  been  kept  up  for  some  length  of  time.  It  seemed  that 
th>  burning  of  the  victim  and  the  hurling  of  rocks  at  it  had 
noi  satisfied  the  destroyers,  for  I  found  also  among  the  ashes, 
bones  and  rocks,  several  arrow  heads,  a  stone  spear  head  and 
ston?  axes,  which  were  taken  out  in  the  presence  of  a  number 
of  witnesses,  consisting  of  the  people  of  the  neighborhood, 
attracted  by  the  novelty  of  the  excavation.  The  layer  of 
ashes,  etc.,  was  covered  by  a  strata  of  alluvial  deposits,  con- 
sisting of  clay,  sand  and  soil  from  eight  to  nine  feet  thick." 

The  preceding  statements  and  reasonings  are,  therefore, 
sufficient  for  the  position  that  the  ancient  miners  and  mound 
builders  were  contemporaneous  with  the  mastadon,  and  were 
occupying  this  country  at  a  period  corresponding  with  the 
Stone  Age  of  Europe. 

The  mound  builders  were  not  confined  to  the  occupation 
of  the  country  lying  to  the  South  of  Lake  Superior.  Well 
attested  and  authenticated  statements  are  made  of  the  exist- 
ence of  the  well-known  artificial  mounds  in  the  valley  of  the 
Red  River  of  the  North,  throughout  Dakota,  Montana  and 
British  Columbia.  It  is  possible  that  future  -  explorers  may 
trace  their  works  still  further  to  the  northwest  than  investi- 
gators of  this  day  dare  predict. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  during  the  glacial  period  North 
America  was  covered  with  ice  between  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  from  the  north  pole  nearly  to  the 
tropics.  There  is  sufficient  evidence  to  suggest  the  belief  that 
man  inhabited  the  tropics  as  early,  at  least,  as  the  latter  por- 
tion of  the  glacial  period.  On  the  recession  and  disappearance 


88  MINERAL   RESOURCES 


of  the  glaciers,  probably  accompanied  with  a  subsidence,  be- 
neath the  ocean,  of  a  large  portion  of  th?  northern  conti- 
nent, and  followed  by  a  modified,  warm  and  genial  climate, 
man,  together  with  the  mastodon,  mammoth,  etc.,  moved 
north  and  occupied  the  land  to  a  comparatively  high  latitude. 
This  movement,  of  course,  occupied  many  ages.  Subsequently 
there  was  a  gradual  elevation  of  the  land  above  the  ocean — 
causing  a  gradual  change,  through  long  time,  in  the  temper- 
ature of  the  country  until  brought  finally  as  it  now  exists 
It  was  during  the  changes  of  this  period  that  the  copper 
miners  and  mound  builders  flourished.  The  effect  of  the  fin&l 
change  in  temperature,  due  to  the  elevation  of  the  continent, 
was  to  drive  this  race  further  and  further  southward,  iiitil 
the  seat  and  centre  of  their  power  became  fixed  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Ohio  valleys,  and  in  the  region  of  the  great  likes. 
In  this  southward  movement  it  is  possible  that  the  drones 
were  left  behind,  and  the  nomadic  people  of  the  far  /iorth, 
and  some  of  the  tribes  of  worthless  and  shift les  &  Indians  that 
it  is  impossible  to  win  to  industrious  lives,  have  descended 
from  the  outcasts  of  the  people  who  were  the  miners  qf  copper 
and  the  builders  of  the  mounds. 

The  Mexican  records,  as  interpreted  by  the  Abb*/  Brasseur 
de  Bourbourg,  are  to  the  effect  that  the  mound  bu/lders  were 
finally  driven  from  the  Mississippi  valley  by  pro/onged  and 
continuous  incursions  of  fierce,  predatory  and  Warlike  tribes 
which  came  from  the  west.  Leaving  their  l<mg  occupied 
homes,  they  became  dwellers  in  Mexico  and  Central  America, 
and  leading  participators  in  the  work  of  the  early  civilization 
that  was  the  glory  of  those  countries.  The  beginning  of  this 
forced  migration,  according  to  Abbe  Brasseur,  was  more  thaii- 
a  thousand  years  before  the  Christian  era.  Row  long  prior 
to  this  was  the  first  occupation  of  the  Mississippi  valley  by 
this  ancient  people?  is  a  question  the  writer  will  not  attempt 
to  answer.  The  writer,  however,  does  believe,  that  in  the 
height  of  their  power  the  population  of  that  portion  of  the 
United  States  occupied  l>y  those  ancients,  was  equal  in  num- 
bers to  the  present  population  of  the  same  area.  As  previ- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


ously  stated,  the  mound  builders  were  intelligent  ana  maus- 
trious  people.  They  followed  peaceful  pursuits,  and  their 
works  bear  evidence  of  the  efficiency  of  their  government. 
Their  staple  food  was  maize.  Their  works  do  not  exist  on 
the  Atlantic  coast  except  far  to  the  south.  Their  pursuits 
being  agricultural,  they  occupied  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
valleys  and  the  Lake  region  as  the  country  most  suitable  for 
those  purposes, — thus  being  the  precursors  of  the  present  race 
of  men  who,  led  by  the  same  instincts,  are  occupying  the 
same  lands,  and  for  the  same  purposes,  but  with  an  advanced 
civilization  which  is  capable  of  making  the  territory  once 
occupied  by  the  mound  builders  of  the  Stone  Age,  the  grain 
producing  country  for  the  world,  and  the  centre  of  govern- 
mental power.  The  mound  builders  being  driven  out,  their 
territory  was  occupied  by  their  assailants.  Under  the  sway 
of  a  nomadic  and  warlike  people  the  works  of  the  ancient 
race  were  left  to  decay,  and  their  cultivated  fields  ran  to  waste. 
Thus,  through  centuries,  was  rest  given  to  the  soil,  in  order 
to  renew  fertility  and  prepare  it  for  the  occupation  of  our 
present  race.  After  us — is  in  the  future. 


IKON. 


The  early  missionaries,  who  were  the  first  to  announce  to 
the  civilized  world  the  existence  of  copper  on  Lake  Superior, 
appear  not  to  have  discovered  the  fact  that  iron  ore  was  also 
one  of  the  great  natural  resources  of  this  region.     In   their 
kt  relacions,"  they  refer  to  "  mines"  of  copper,  silver,  tin,  lead 
and  antimony,  but  do  not  seem  to  have  learned  from  the  sav- 
ages the  fact  that  there  were  also  mountains  of  iron  ore.     It 
is  true   that  Truchement  Brusle  assured  "  Lagarde"  that  in 
the  country  of  the  Souriquois,  (wherever  that  may  have  been,) 
there  were  u  not  only  mines  of  copper,  but  also  of  steel, v  and, 
"  it  seems  that   one  might  find  mines  of  iron  if  one  would 
take  the  trouble  of  searching,  and  go  to  some  expense;1'  but 
this  seems  to  have  been  mere  conjecture  on  his  part.     It  was 
long  afterwards  that  the  Holy  Fathers  traversed  the  south 
shore  of  the  Great  Lake,  from  Sault  Ste.  Marie  to  Fond  du 
Lac,  and  if  they  found  iron  ore,  or  were  informed  of  its  exist- 
ence  by  the   Indians,  they  certainly  did   not   consider  it  of 
sufficient  importance  to  speak  of  it  in  connection  with  their 
other  discoveries.     It  is  more  than  probable,  too,  that  the  In- 
dians themselves  did  not,  at  that  time,  have  any  knowledge 
of  the  value,  or  the  purposes  for  which  iron  was  used — or  if 
they  did,  knew  nothing  of  its  extraction  from  the  ore,  or  from 
whence  it  came.    At  all  events,  it  was  two  hundred  years 
after  the  missionaries  first  made  known  the  existence  of  cop- 
per in  this  region,  that  the  whites  first  learned   from   the 
Indians  there  were  also  "  mines11  of  iron  as  well  as  of  copoer. 
It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  pioneers  in  the  development  of 
the  Lake  Superior  iron  mines  came  here  originally  in  search 
for  copper,  and  with  no  definite  knowledge  of  the  existence 
of  iron  anywhere  on  the  lake. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  91 

Who  were  the  original  discoverers  of  iron  ore  on  Lake  Su- 
perior (after  the  Indians)  has  been  to  some  extent  a  disputed 
question.  There  have  been  and  are  still  a  number  of  claim- 
ants, but  we  believe  it  is  an  honor  which  belongs  not  exclu- 
sively to  any  one  person.  The  person  or  persons  who  first 
made  known  to  the  world  the  existence  of  workable  deposits 
of  iron  ore  in  this  region,  and  those  who,  acting  upon  that 
information,  came  after  them  and  engaged  in  the  laborious 
and  almost  hopeless  task  of  development,  are  the  ones  to 
whom  the  future  historian  will  give  the  meed  of  praise.  The 
first  of  these  was  William  A.  Burt,  Deputy  Surveyor  under 
Dr.  Houghton,  in  1844. 

When  Dr.  Houghton,  as  previously  related  in  this  volume, 
prevailed  upon  the  General  Government  to  grant  an  additional 
allowance  for  the  linear  surveys  of  the  upper  peninsula,  in 
order  that  a  geological  examination  of  the  district  might  be 
combined  with  it,  he  placed  Mr.  Burt  in  charge  of  the  field 
work,  giving  him  as  compensation  the  whole  amount  of  the 
government  allowance,  reserving  nothing  for  himself. 

In  the  summer  of  18*4,  Mr.  Burt,  with  a  party  consisting 
of  William  Ives,  Jacob  Houghton,  R.  S.  Mellen,  Harvey 
Mellen,  James  King,  and  two  Indians  named  Taylor  and 
Doner,  was  engaged  in  running  out  the  township  lines,  and 
making  such  geological  observations  as  required  by  the 
terms  of  his  agreement  with  Dr.  H.  All  the  members  of 
this  party,  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Burt  and  the  two  In- 
dians, are,  we  believe,  still  living. 

On  the  15th  of  September  the  party  reached  the  lake,  and 
established  the  northeast  corner  of  town  47  north,  range  25 
west,  about  midway  between  the  deltas  of  the  Carp  and 
Chocolay  rivers.  From  thence  they  ran  the  township  line 
between  towns  47  and  48,  and  camped  at  the  east  end  of 
Teal  Lake  on  the  18th.  The  discovery  of  iron  ore  the  next 
day,  is  thus  related  by  Jacob  Houghton,  Esq.  : 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  September,  1844,  we  started 
to  run  the  line  south,  between  ranges  26  and  27.  So  soon 
as  we  reached  the  hill  to  the  south  of  the  lake,  the  compass- 


92  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

man,  (Mr.  Ives,)  began  to  notice  the  fluctuation  in  the  varia- 
tion of  the  magnetic  needle.  We  were,  of  course,  using  the 
solar  compass,  of  which  Mr.  Burt  was  the  inventor,  and  I 
shall  never  forget  the  excitement  of  the  old  gentleman  when 
viewing  the  changes  of  the  variation — the  needle  not  actually 
traversing  alike  in  any  two  places.  He  kept  changing  his  posi- 
tion to  take  observations,  all  the  time  saying,  '  How  would 
theysurvey  this  country  without  my  compass?  What  could 
be  done  here  without  my  compass?'  It  was  the  full  and 
complete  realization  of  what  he  had  foreseen  when  struggling 
through  the  first  stages  of  his  invention.  At  length  the  com- 
pass-man called  for  us  all  to  '  come  and  see  a  variation  that 
will  beat  them  all.1  As  we  looked  at  the  instrument,  to  our 
astonishment  the  north  end  of  the  needle  was  traversing  a 
few  degrees  to  the  south  of  west.  Mr.  Burt  called  out,  '  Boys, 
look  around  and  see  what  you  can  find  T  We  all  left  the  line, 
some  going  to  the  east,  some  going  to  the  west,  and  all  of  us 
returned  with  specimens  of  iron  ore,  mostly  gathered  from 
outcrops.  This  was  along  the  first  mile  from  Teal  Lake. 
We  carried  out  all  the  specimens  we  could,  conveniently.'' 

Hon.  J.  N.  Mellen,  of  Eomeo,  Michigan,  has  still  in  his 
possession  one  of  the  specimens  found  that  day.  This,  it 
may  safely  be  asserted,  was  the  first  discovery,  by  white 
men,  of  iron  ore  on  Lake  Superior.  The  line  referred  to,  on 
the  first  mile  of  which  these  discoveries  were  made,  is  the 
east  boundary  of  the  section  upon  which  the  celebrated  Jack- 
son mine  was  afterwards  found  and  opened.  As,  however, 
the  Jackson  ore  is  not  magnetic,  and  does  not  outcrop  on  the 
line  in  question,  it  is  more  than  probable  it  was  not  seen  by 
the  party,  but  that  the  specimens  were  taken  from  one  or 
more  of  the  flag  or  soft  hematite  ranges  further  east  and  south. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1845,  Dr.  Houghton  and  Mr.  Burt, 
while  engaged  in  subdividing  town  47  north,  range  26  west, 
made  a  more  particular  examination  with  reference  to  iron 
ore,  especially  at  the  corner  of  sections  29,  30,  31  and  .32, 
which  sections  were  afterwards  known  as  the  Cascade  (now 
Palmer)  mines,  and  both  ventured  the  assertion  to  Jacob 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


Hough  ton  and  other  members  of  the  party,  that  the  deposits 
were  very  valuable,  and  would  some  day  be  made  the  basis  of 
an  active  and  profitable  industry. 

To  the  government  surveyors,  therefore,  belongs  the  credit 
of  having  first  given  to  the  world  information  of  the  existence 
of  iron  in  considerable  quantities  in  the  country  bordering 
the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior.    Such  is  the  fact  established 
not  only  by  the  published  reports  of  those  who  had  charge  of 
the  surveys,  but  one  which  is  fully  attested  by  living  witnesses, 
who  were  themselves  members  of  the  party  by  whom  the  first 
discoveries   were  made.     Such  being  incontestably  the  case, 
it  is  a  little  singular  that  Dr.  Jackson,  in.  his  report  of  1849, 
should  have  been  in  doubt  as  to  the  facts,  or,  as  he  appears  to 
have  done,  assumed  to  give  the  credit  to  others.      He  says 
that  in  the  summer  of  1844,  during  his  first  visit  to  the  Lake, 
he  obtained  from  Peter  B.  Barbeau,  then  a  trader  at  Sault 
Ste.  Marie,  a  fine  specimen  of   specular  iron  ore  which  had 
been  given  to  Mr.  B.  by  an  Indian  chief.     He  also  learned  at 
the  same  time  that  this  chief  knew  of  a  mountain  mass  of 
ore,  somewhere  between  the  head  of  Keweenaw  bay  and  the 
headwaters  of  the  Menominee  river,     The  next  summer  he 
informed  Mr.  Lyman  Pray,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  what  he 
had  heard,  and  suggested  to  him  the  propriety  of  looking  up 
the  mountain  in  question.     Mr.  Pray  immediately  proceeded 
to  the  Sault,  where  he  employed  the  son  of  the  Ojibway  chief 
as  a  guide,  and  went  with  him  to  L'Anse;  from  thence,  guided 
by  the  Indian,  he  traversed  the  then  unbroken  forest  and 
found  the  mountain.     On  his  return  he  informed  Dr.  Jackson 
that  he  had  traveled  four  miles  around  the  mountain  and 
found  only  the  same  kind  of  ore,  and  no  rocks.     To  Mr.  Pray, 
therefore,  he  ascribes  the  honor  of  the  first  practical  discov- 
ery of  iron  ore  in  the  upper  peninsula  of  Michigan,  saying 
that  "  no  linear  surveys  had  then  been  made,  and  it  is  prob- 
able no  white  man  had  ever  before  explored  that  locality." 
It  is  barely  possible  that   it  may   have  been  the  Republic 
u  mountain  "  which  Mr.  Pray  found  and  explored;    but  if  so, 
he  must  have  been  a  novice,  else  he  would  have  been  able  to 


94  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

find  something  more  than  specular  iron  ore,  and,  at  least,  a 
few  rocks.  It  is  noticeable,  however,  that  Prof.  Jackson  does 
not  once  refer  to  the  discoveries  made  by  Mr.  Burt  and  his 
party  the  year  previous,  although  a  catalogue  of  the  specimens 
found  by  them  fills  three  whole  pages  of  the  same  volume  of 
"  Public  Documents  "  in  which  his  own  report  was  originally 
published. 

Mr.  Barbeau  himself  (he  still  resides  at  the  Sault  Ste. 
Marie),  informs  us  that  the  existence  of  iron  ore  in  the  upper 
peninsula  was  known  to  the  white  traders  as  early  as  1830. 
He  claims  to  have  known  of  the  iron  deposits  on  the  Jackson, 
Cleveland,  and  Lake  Superior  locations,  fifteen  years  before 
the  discoveries  made  by  Mr.  Burt,  and  says  that  the  Indians 
not  only  knew  at  that  time  of  the  existence  of  iron  ore,  but 
that  he  had  seen  in  their  possession  native  lead  sufficiently 
pure  to  be  used  in  making  rifle  balls,  and  that  they  did  so  use 
it.  But  they  never  could  be  persuaded  to  tell  where  they 
found  it,  and  up  to  this  day  have  refused  to  give  any  infor- 
mation which  would  lead  to  its  discovery.  Mr.  Barbeau  was 
an  old  Indian  trader,  having  entered  the  employ  of  the  Amer- 
ican Fur  Company  in  1827,  and  no  man,  perhaps,  in  the 
upper  peninsula  is  more  familiar  with  its  early  history.  We 
can  see  no  reason  to  doubt  his  statements  ;  but  it  is  more 
than  probable  that  he,  had  little  appreciation  of  the  extent  or 
value  of  the  iron  deposits,  of  the  existence  of  which  he  claims 
to  have  been  aware  as  early  as  1830.  At  all  events  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  ever  profited  by  his  knowledge,  but  allowed 
others  to  step  in,  and  by  right  of  discovery,  reap  the  harvest 
which  he  might  have  garnered.  According  to  his  farther 
statement,  Achille  Cadotte,  a  French  and  Indian  half-breed, 
was,  in  1845,  informed  by  an  old  Indian  chief,  then  living  at 
the  mouth  of  Carp  river,  (now  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  city  of  Marquette,)  that  he  knew  where  there  was 
a  mountain  of  iron  ore.  and  went  with  the  chief  to  see  it. 
The  name  of  this  chief  was  u  Man-je-ki-jik,"  (Moving  Day.) 
Cadotte  then  communicated  his  discovery  to  Mr.  John  Wes- 
tren,  (?)  who  went  with  him  to  the  mountain,  and  under  his 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  95 

direction  about  a  ton  of  the  ore  was  carried  down  from  what 
is  now  the  Jackson  mine  to  the  mouth  of  the  Carp,  taken 
from  there  to  the  Sault  in  canoes,  and  thence  to  Detroit. 
That  Mr.  Barbeau  is  mistaken  in  at  least  one  particular,  is 
proved  by  the  well  substantiated  fact  that  Mr.  Westren  did 
not  visit  Lake  Superior  until  1846. 

In  June,  1845,  a  company  was  organized  at  Jackson,  Michi^ 
gan,  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the  mineral  regions  on  the 
south  shore  of  Lake  Superior.  The  company  consisted  of  P. 
M.  Everett,  James  Gauson,  S.  T.  Carr,  G.  W.  Carr,  F.  W. 
Carr,  E.  S.  Rockwell,  F.  W.  Kirtland,  W.  H.  Munroe,  A.  W. 
Ernst,  Fairchild  Farrand,  Abram  V.  Berry,  John  Westren, 
and  S.  A.  Hastings.  The  articles  of  association  were  filed  July 
23d,  1845,  and  named  Abram  V.  Berry  as  President,  Freder- 
ick W.  Kirtland  as  Secretary,  Philo  M.  Everett  as  Treasurer, 
and  George  W.  Carr  and  William  A.  Ernst  Trustees. 

The  same  day  that  the  articles  of  association  were  executed, 
(July  23d,)  a  party  of  explorers,  consisting  of  P.  M.  Everett, 
S.  T.  Carr,  W.  H.  Munroe,, and  E.  S.  Rockwell,  started  for 
Lake  Superior,  and  secured  what  is  now  the  Jackson  Mine. 
This  party  appears  to  have  been  under  the  leadership  of  Mr. 
Everett,  who  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected  citi- 
zens of  Marquette.  •  While  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  on  their  way 
up,  Louis  Nolan,  a  half-breed,  told  Everett  and  his  party,  of 
the  existence  of  iron  ore  on  Lake  Superior,  (Mr.  Burt's  dis- 
coveries of  the  year  previous  not  being  generally  known,) 
and  volunteered  to  go  along  and  show  them  where  it  was. 
He  accompanied  the  party  to  the  mouth  of  the  Carp,  and  all 
went  as  far  as  Teal  Lake  in  search  of  the  iron,  but  failed  to 
find  it.  Returning  to  the  mouth  of  the  Carp,  they  pro- 
ceeded on  their  way  to  Copper  Harbor,  the  place  for  which 
they  had  originally  set  out.  The  enterprise  was  originally 
undertaken  with  a  view  to  exploring  for  copper,  and  it  is 
probable  that  the  idea  of  finding  iron  was  not  seriously  enter- 
tained until  the  exploring  party  reached  the  Sault  and  saw 
Nolan. 

After  leaving  the  mouth  of  the  Carp,  the  party  coasted  up 


96  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

the  lake  to  Copper  Harbor,  where  they  fell  in  with  the  In- 
dian Chief  Man-je-ki-jik,  who  returned  with  them  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Carp,  and  guided  the  party  to  the  Jackson 
Mountain.  That  Mr.  Everett  was  really  the  moving  spirit  in 
this,  the  first  iron  mining  enterprise  on  the  lake,  would  appear 
from  the  following  letter  written  by  him  to  Capt  G.  D , 
Johnson,  late  of  the  Lake  Superior  Mine.  The  letter,  the 
original  of  which  we  have  seen  and  read,  is  dated  "  Jackson* 
Mich.,  Nov.  10th,  1845,"  and  is  as  follows: 

"  Since  I  have  returned  from  Lake  Superior,  Charles  tells  me 
he  promised  to  let  you  know  all  about  my  excursion,  and 
wishes  me  to  perform  the  task  for  him.  In  compliance  with 
his  request,  I  will  therefore  try  and  give  you  a  brief  descrip- 
tion of  my  trip.  I  left  here  on  the  23d  of  July  last,  and  was 
gone  till  the  24th  of  October.  I  had  some  idea  of  going  to 
Lake  Superior  last  winter,  but  did  not  think  seriously  of  going 
until  a  short  time  before  I  left.  /  had  considerable  difficulty 
in  getting  any  one  to  join  me  in  the  enterprise,  but  I  at  last 
succeeded  in  forming  a  company  of  thirteen.  I  was  appointed 
treasurer  and  agent,  to  explore  and  make  locations,  for  which 
last  purpose  we  had  secured  seven  permits  from  the  Secretary 
of  War.  I  took  four  men  with  me  from  Jackson,  and  hired 
a  guide  at  the  Sault,  where  1  bought  a  boat,  and  coasted  up 
the  lake  to  Copper  Harbor,  which  is  over  300  miles  from  the 
Sault  Ste.  Marie.  There  are  no  white  men  011  Lake  Superior 
except  those  who  go  there  for  mining  purposes.  We  incurred 
many  dangers  and  hardships.  *  *  *  *  We  made  several 
locations — one  of  which  we  called  Iron  at  the  time.  It  is  a 
mountain  of  solid  iron  ore,  150  feet  high.  The  ore  looks  as 
bright  as  a  bar  of  iron  just  broken.  Since  coming  home  we 
have  had  some  of  it  smelted,  and  find  that  it  produces  iron 
and  something  resembling  gold — some  say  it  is  gold  and  cop- 
per. Our  location  is  one  mile  square,  and  we  shall  send  a 
company  of  men  up  in  the  spring  to  begin  operations.  Our 
company  is  called  the  Jackson  Mining  Company. 
*  *  *  *  "Yours,  etc.; 

P.  M.  EVERETT." 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  97 

The  actual  discovery  of  the  Jackson  Mountain  was  made 
by  S.  T.  Carr  and  E.  S.  Rockwell,  members  of  Mr.  Everett's 
party.  They  were,  as  stated,  guided  to  the  locality  by  the 
Indian  chief,  but  the  superstition  of  the  savage  not  allowing 
him  to  approach  the  spot,  Carr  and  Rockwell  continued  the 
search  alone,  Mr.  Everett  having,  for  some  reason,  returned 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Carp.  The  precise  spot  where  this  dis- 
covery was  made,  was  until  a  year  or  two  ago,  and  may  be 
yet,  distinguished  by  the  remains  of  a  huge  pine  stump,  the 
upturned  roots  of  which  revealed  to  Carr  and  Rockwell  the 
first  knowledge  of  an  iron  range  from  which  nearly  ten 
million  tons  of  ore  have  since  been  mined.  The  trunk  of  this 
tree,  which  at  the  time  of  their  visit  had  been  freshly  up- 
rooted, was  afterwards  sawn  into  lumber  and  carefully  pre- 
served to  be  afterwards  manufactured  into  mementoes. 

Eleven  members  of  the  Jackson  Company,  immediately 
after  its  organization,  procured  permits  from  the  War  De- 
partment to  locate  one  square  mile  each  of  mineral  land  on 
the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior.  The  manner  of  locating 
lands  with  these  permits,  has  already  been  described  in  this 
volume.  The  townships  had  not  then  been  sub-divided,  and 
the  lands  covered  by  permits  could  only  be  described  by  such 
permanent  boundaries  as  would  admit  of  their  being  entered 
on  a  map  kept  for  that  purpose  in  the  office  of  the  Mineral 
Land  Agent.  At  the  time  of  Mr.  Everett's  first  visit,  the 
country  for  twenty-five  miles  west  of  Presque  Isle  had  been 
plastered  over  with  these  permits.  The  first  one  located  was 
surveyed  from  a  designated  point  or  object  near  the  mouth  of 
Dead  river,  and  being  entered  on  the  map,  formed  the  east- 
ern, southern  or  northern  boundary  of  the  next  location. 
The  "  square  mile  "  on  which  the  Jackson  is  situated,  had 
been  located  with  permit  No.  158,  granted  to  D.  Hamilton, 
of  Watervliet,  New  York,  who  appears  to  have  been  wholly 
ignorant  of  its  immense  undeveloped  wealth.  Everett  and 
his  party,  in  their  effort  to  secure  their  discovery,  were  unable 
to  describe  the  land  accurately,  and  made  Teal  Lake  (not  then 
marked  on  the  agency  map)  its  northern  boundary.  The 


98  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

mineral  agent,  not  knowing  the  exact  locality  of  the  lake, 
entered  the  location  so  that  it  appeared  on  the  map  about 
twelve  miles  southeast  of  where  it  should  have  been.  In  a 
little  book  published  by  Mr.  Jacob  Houghton,  in  1846,  we 
find  a  reference  to  the  Jackson  location,  in  which  the  prop- 
erty is  described  as  having  been  located  by  i;  Permit  No.  593, 
somewhere  in  town  46  north,  range  27  or  28  west,11  the  Ham- 
ilton permit  being  marked  on  section  1  of  town  47,  range  27. 
The  locations  made  under  these  permits  were  entered  on  the 
map  at  the  Mineral  Land  Office  in  pencil  tracings,  so  they 
could  be  lifted  and  transferred  at  the  option  of  the  owners. 
When  Everett  and  his  party  announced  their  discovery  of 
iron  ore  and  exhibited  their  specimens  the  owners  of  adjacent 
locations  began  to  examine  their  lands,  and  failing  to  make 
similar  discoveries,  lifted  their  permits  and  transferred  them 
elsewhere.  As  soon  as  Hamilton  abandoned  his,  the  Jackson 
company  managed  to  find  the  township  lines,  secured  a  trans- 
fer of  their  permit,  and  when  the  township  was  subdivided, 
bought  the  land,  section  1,  town  47  north,  range  27  west,  at 
$2.50  per  acre. 

In  the  spring  of  1846,  another  expedition  was  fitted  out, 
consisting  of  A.  V.  Berry,  F.  W.  Kirtland,  E.  S.  Rockwell 
and  W.  H.  Munroe,  members  of  the  Jackson  Company,  and 
several  others.  The  object  of  this  visit,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Berry, 
was  to  make  further  explorations  and  to  use  the  remaining 
permits  on  other  locations.  He  says : 

"  I  found  our  location  much  beyond  what  I  had  anticipated. 
After  spending  twelve  days  in  the  woods,  exploring  the  sur- 
rounding country,  including  what  was  afterwards  known  as 
the  Cleveland  location,  and  building  what  we  called  a  house, 
we  returned  to  the  mouth  of  the  Carp  with  300  pounds  of  ore 
on  our  backs.  We  there  divided;  one  party  was  left  to  keep 
possession  of  the  location,  another  went  farther  up  the  lake 
to  use  the  remaining  permits,  while  I  returned  to  the  Sault 
with  the  ore.  It  was  my  intention  at  this  time  to  use  another 
permit  on  the  Cleveland  location,  but  on  arriving  at  the 
Sault  I  met  Dr.  Cassels,  of  Cleveland,  agent  of  a  Cleveland 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  99 

Company,  and  having  arranged  with  him  that  iiis  company 
should  pay  a  portion  of  the  expense  of  keeping  possession, 
making  roads,  &c.,  I  discovered  to  him  the  whereabouts  of  the 
Cleveland  location.  He  took  my  canoe,  visited  the  location, 
and  secured  it  by  a  permit.  On  arriving  at  Jackson  we  en- 
deavored on  two  occasions  to  smelt  the  ore  which  I  had 
brought  down,  in  our  common  cupola  furnaces,  but  failed 
entirely.  In  August  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Olds,  of  Cucush 
Prairie,  who  owned  a  forge  (in  which  he  was  making  iron 
fV;-in  bog  ore,)  then  undergoing  repairs,  succeeded  in  making 

tine  bar  of  iron  from  our  ore  in  a  blacksmith's  fire — the  first 
iron  ever  made  from  Lake  Superior  ore.  In  the  winter  of 
1846-?47,  we  began  to  get  up  at  Jackson  a  bellows  and  other 
"machinery  for  constructing  a  forge  on  the  Carp ;  and  in  the 
summer  of  1847  a  company  of  men  commenced  building  the 
same,  and  continued  until  March,  1848,  when  a  freshet  carried 
away  the  dam.  The  association  was  then, 

(1848)  merged  into  an  incorporated  company,  and  by  some 
means  the  pioneers  in  the  enterprise  are  now  all  out/1* 

One  end  of  this  first  bar  of  iron  Mr.  Everett  had  drawn  out 
into  a  knife  blade  the  better  to  exhibit  the  superior  qualities 
of  the  metal. 

The  first  comparatively  thorough  exploration  of  the  Jack- 
son location  was  made  by  Fairchild  Farrand,  in  1846,  in  the 
summer  of  which  year  some  ore  was  mined.  The  oLl  Jack- 
son or  Carp  Eiver  forge,  to  which  Mr.  Berry  alludes  in  his 
letter,  was  built  under  the  supervision  -of  William  McNair, 
and  was  begun  in  1847.  It  was  located  on  the  Carp  River, 
about  three  miles  east  of  Negaunee,  and  a  short  distance  north 
of  the  old  county  road.  It  was  finished  early  in  1848,  the 
first  iron  being  made  on  the  10th  of  February,  1848,  by  forge- 
man  Ariel  N.  Barney,  who  now  resides  at  Huron.  Ohio.  Mr. 
Barney,  in  additon  to  having  been  the  pioneer  iron  maker  on 
Lake  Superior,  established  the  first  hotel  at  Marquette,  was 
one  of  the  first  justices  of  the  peace,  an  office  which  he  held 
many  years,  and  was  afterwards  Clerk  and  Register,  as  well 

*Brooks1  Geological  Report,  1873. 


100  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

as  Judge  of  Probate.  He  was  one  of  the  hardiest  among  the 
early  pioneers,  and  though  upwards  of  sixty  years  of  age, 
served  as  a  private  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 

The  Jackson  forge  was  a  primitive  affair.  The  power  was 
supplied  by  the  Carp,  across  which  a  dam  eighteen  feet  high 
was  constructed.  There  were  eight  fires,  from  each  of  which 
a  lump  was  taken  every  six  hours,  placed  under  the  hammer, 
and  forged  into  blooms  four  inches  square  and  two  feet  long — 
the  daily  product  being  about  three  tons.  It  required  two 
six-horse  teams  to  draw  this  product  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Carp,  over  ten  miles  of  the  most  horrible  road  imaginable. 

Soon  after  starting  up,  a  freshet  carried  away  the  dam,  and 
the  forge  remained  idle  until  some  time  in  the  summer  of 
1848,  wlien  Mr.  Everett  came  up  as  the  agent  of  the  company, 
had  the  dam  repaired,  and  resumed  the  manufacture  of  blooms. 
The  first  blooms  made  at  this  forge — the  first  iron  made  on 
Lake  Superior,  and  the  first  from  Lake  Superior  ores,  (except 
the  small  bar  made  by  Mr.  Olds,)  was  sold  to  the  late  E.  B. 
Ward,  and  from  it  was  made  the  walking-beam  of  the  side- 
wheel  steamer  u  Ocean."  This  forge  was  kept  in  operation 
till  1854,  when  it  was  finally  abandoned,  having  proved  any- 
thing but  a  profitable  investment  for  the  owners,  or  indeed 
any  of  the  lessees  b}'  whom  it  was  carried  on  the  last  four 
years  of  its  existence.  .  These  lessees  were  first.  B.  F.  Eaton, 
of  Columbus,  Ohio,  who  was  ruined  by  it,  financially,  in  less 
than  six  months.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Clinton  Iron  Com- 
pany, an  association  of  forgemen  from  Clinton  County,  New 
York.  The  corporators  of  this  Company  were  Azel  Lathrop, 
H.  Butler,  Charles  Parish  and  Daniel  Brittell.  Mr.  Lathrop 
now  resides  at  Centerville,  on  the  Peninsula  Division  of  the 
Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway,  and  Mr.  Brittell  is  a  res- 
ident of  Marque tte.  These  four  gentlemen  had  previously 
been  employed  at  the  forge,  and  the  company  was  formed  for 
the  special  purpose  of  leasing  and  operating  the  works.  The 
market  price  of  blooms  being  at  that  time  much  below  the 
cost  of  production,  the  company  lost  money,  and  after  a  brief 
period,  suspended  work.  Hon.  Peter  White  next  tried  his 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  101 


hand  as  lessee,  with  no  better  ^eeults;'  iksfrly,  J.  P. :Pe'idrll, 
Esq.,  took  hold  of  the  concern,  but  did  not  meet  with  the 
success  his  pluck  and  energy  merited.  Altogether,  the  forge 
made  little  iron  and  no  money. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1848,   a  meeting   of  the  "  Jackson 

Mining  Company "    was  held,  and  an  act  of  incorporation, 

passed  by  the  legislature  the  preceding  winter,  was  accepted, 

and  the   company  re-incorporated  under   a   special  charter. 

The  officers  elected  were — Fairchild  Farrand,  President;  W. 

A.  Ernst,  Secretary;  George  Foot,  Treasurer;  F.  W.  Carr,  F. 

W.  Kirtland,  Lewis  Bascom,  and  John  Westren,  Directors. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  fixed  at  $300,000,  in 

shares  of  the  par  value  of  $100,  the  object  of  the  company 

being  the  mining  of  copper,  as  well  as  iron.     An  amendment 

to  the  charter  was  obtained  in  1849,  by  which  the  title  of  the 

corporation  was  changed  to  the  "  Jackson  Iron  Company,"  of 

which  Ezra  Jones  was  President;  W.  A.  Ernst  Secretary; 

John  Watson,  Treasurer;  S.  H.  Kimball,  James  A.  Dyer  and 

James  Day,  Directors. 

The  first  shipment  of  ore  from  the  region  was  made  in  1850, 
-and  consisted  of  about  five  tons,  which  was  taken  away  by  Mr. 
A.  L.  Crawford,  of  Newcastle,  Pa.     Mr.  Crawford  was  then,  as 
now,  the  proprietor  of  large  iron  works,  and  a  part  of  this 
ore  was  made  into  blooms  and  rolled  into  merchant  bars,  to 
test  its  qualities.     The  iron  was  found  to  be  most  excellent, 
and  served  to  attract  the  attention  of  Pennsylvania  iron  mas- 
ters to  this  new  field  of  supply  for  their  furnaces  and  rolling 
mills.     The  same  summer,  Gen.  Curtis,  proprietor  of  large 
iron  works  at  Sharon,  Pa.,  came  up  to  inspect  the  Jackson 
and  Cleveland  mines,  his  object  being  to  obtain  an  interest  in 
one  or  both,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  for  his  furnaces,  a  sup- 
ply of  ore  of  a  better  quality  than  he  was  then  using.     He 
succeeding  in  buying  up  enough  of  the  Jackson  stock  to  give 
him  the  control  of  its  affairs,  and  for  several  years  afterwards 
the  location  was  generally  known  as  "  Sharon."     In  1852, 
about  seventy  tons  of  Jackson  ore  was  taken  to  Sharon  and 
ihere  made  into  pig  iron  in  the  "  Old  Clay  "  furnace. 


102  lXRAL   RESOURCES 


;  Tjprijo Nl8SDv:t&euhtetofy"(of  tke  Jackson  Company  was  sim- 
ply a  record  of  disappointments  and  financial  embarrassment ; 
there  were  frequent  changes  of  management,  until  in  1881, 
the  present  board  of  directors,  or  a  majority  of  them,  were 
chosen.  The  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
occasioned  a  great  demand  for  iron,  and  gave  a  new  impetus 
to  the  development  of  the  Lake  Superior  mines.  In  1862  the 
Jackson  Company  declared  its  first  dividend,  and  since  then 
there  has  not  been  a  time  when  its  stock  could  be  purchased 
for  less  than  five  times  its  par  value.  The  managers  are  very 
reticent  in  regard  to  its  affairs,  and  we  are  unable  even  to  ap- 
proximate its  total  net  earnings  since  1861,  but  feel  safe  in  say- 
ing that  they  have  been  sufficiently  large  to  be  partitioned  into 
handsome  individual  fortunes  among  the  shareholders. 

The  first  regular  exportation  of  ore  from  the  Jackson  mine 
began  in  1856,  in  which  year  about  5,000  tons  were  shipped 
to  lower  lake  ports.  Previous  to  that  year,  there  ,  had  been 
mined  about  25,000  tons,  which  had  been  converted  into  blooms 
at  the  Carp  River  and  Marquette  forges. 

THE  MARQUETTE  IKON"  COMPANY. 

In  the  summer  of  1848,  Edward  Clark,  of  Worcester,  Mass., 
came  to  Lake  Superior  in  the  interest  of  Boston  parties,  to 
explore  for  copper.  While  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie  he  met  Robert 
J.  Grraveraet,  who  persuaded  him  to  stop  at  Carp  River  and 
examine  the  iron  deposits.  The  Jackson  company's  forge 
was  at  work  at  the  time,  and  Clark  was  so  favorably  impressed 
with  what  he  saw  that  he  returned  home  without  visiting 
the  copper  region,  taking  with  him  one  of  the  blooms,  and 
specimens  of  ore  from  the  Jackson  location.  The  bloom 
being  drawn  into  wire  at  a  factory,  proved  the  excellence  of 
the  iron,  and  Clark  proceeded  to  form  an  association  for  the 
purpose  of  building  a  forge  on  Lake  Superior,  assisted  by 
Grraveraet.  The  latter  went  to  Worcester  that  winter,  (trav- 
eling to  Saginaw  from  Mackinaw  on  snow  shoes,)  and  together 
with  Clark  succeeded  in  enlisting  a  number  of  gentlemen  in 
the  enterprise,  among  them  Amos  R.  Hariow,  Esq.,  now  one 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  103 

of  the  wealthiest  and  most  respected  citizens  of  Marquette. 
Against  the  capital  of  the  others  Clark  and  Graveraet  were  to 
put  in  leases  of  iron  lands  of  which  they  claimed  to  be  the 
owners,  and  accordingly  Mr.  Harlow,  who  was  the  owner  of 
a  small  machine  shop,  constructed  and  purchased  the  neces- 
sary machinery  for  the  projected  works,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1849  shipped  it  to  Lake  Superior,  following,  with  his  family, 
a  month  or  two  later.  Graveraet  had  preceded  him,  with  a 
party  of  men,  among  whom  was  Hon..  Peter  White,  then  a 
mere  lad,  but  who  has  since  become  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  honored  citizens  of  the  region.  Where  now  stands 
the  beautiful  and  flourishing  city  of  Marquette,  there  was 
then  no  sign  of  a  human  habitation,  save  one  or  two  Indian 
huts,  and  a  small  log  warehouse^  belonging  to  the  Jackson 
Mining  Company. 

From  a  paper  prepared  and  read  by  Mr.  White,  before  a 
Marquette  audience,  in  April,  1870,  the  following  extracts 
are  taken:* 

"  It  was  from  this  island,  (Mackinaw,)  twenty-one  years  ago 
this  month  that  the  little,  (and,  I  might  say  almost  worthless) 
steamer  'Tecumseh'  took  her  departure  for  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 
It  was  a  tempestuous  April  morning;  the  seas  rolled  moun- 
tain high,  and  before  she  had  accomplished  many  miles  a 
huge  wave  took  off  the  yawl  boat,  swept  through  the  steam- 
er's gangways,  washed  overboard  much  of  the  freight  from 
the  decks,  alarmed  the  passengers,  and  brought  Captain 
Pratt  to  the  conclusion  that  he  had  better  turn  his  craft  and 
run  her  for  the  haven  of  safety  he  had  left  only  a  few  hours 
before.  This  steamer  was  not  as  fleet  as  the  famous  chief 
whose  name  she  bore.  He  could  probably  have  beaten  her  best 
speed,  on  foot  and  through  a  "  thicket."  Still,  she  did  reach  her 
starting  point,  and  after  a  delay  of  twenty-four  hours  for  re- 
pairs, she  again  started  on  her  trip.  There  were  many  more 
passengers  on  board  than  the  boat  had  either  eating  or 

*Thc  editor  runs  the  risk  of  incurring  Mr.  White's  displeasure  in  making  these  ex- 
tracts, having  tiualifiedly  promised  not  to  make  such  use  of  his  paper;  but  they  are 
f-o  important  as  a  part  of  the  early  history  of  the  region  that  he  has  concluded  to 
publish  it  almost  in  full  and  brave  the  consequences. 


104  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

sleeping  accommodations   for;  but  it  was  not  intended  that 
she  should  be  more  than  twelve  hours  making  the  trip.     *     * 

"  On  board  were  a  party  specially  bound  to  settle  and  start 
the  city  of  Marquette,  and  to  claim  and  undertake  to  develop 
all  the  iron  mountains  that  had  then  been,  or  should  subse- 
quently be  discovered.  The  head  and  leader  of  this  party  was 
the  lamented  Robert  J.  Graveraet.  At  that  time  he  was  a  fit 
leader  for  any  great  enterprise  that  required  the  exercise  of 
pluck,  energy  and  perseverance.  He  had  an  indomitable  will, 
a  commendable  ambition  and  a  splendid  physical  organization, 
capable  of  enduring  an  untold  amount  of  fatigue,  a  disposi- 
tion firm,  yet  gentle  and  generous  to  a  fault,  a  figure  that  for 
grace,  beauty,  noble  bearing  and  symmetrical  proportions,  I 
have  never  seen  equaled.  He  had  many  virtues,  but  his  end 
was  sad  indeed.  Many  a  man  without  a  tithe  of  the  noble 
qualities  he  possessed,  holds  a  place  in  history  as  a  great  hero. 

u  There  were  ten  in  our  party,  all  but  three  of  whom  are 
now  dead.  The  survivors  are,  Dr.  E.  C.  Rogers,  now  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  some  note  in  Chicago,  (a  brother  of  Ran- 
dolph Rogers,  the  sculptor,)  James  Chapman,  for  many  years 
past  a  resident  of  Bayfield,  Wisconsin,  and  myself.  I  have 
resided  here  continuously  ever  since. 

u  But  I  have  digressed  and  got  ahead  of  my  story.  The 
lively  little  steamer,  (lively  with  bed  bugs,)  after  threshing 
around  several  hours,  finally  got  inside  of  the  Detour,  and 
there  met  with  solid  ice,  two  to  three  feet  thick,  and  there 
were  no  indications  of  a  speedy  thaw.  The  boat  was  run 
about  half  her  length  into  the  ice,  when  some  of  the  pas- 
sengers debarked  and  ran  up  it  in  all  directions.  Some 
essayed  the  cutting  of  a  canal  with  saws  and  axes,  but  soon 
gave  it  up  as  a  slow  job.  The  next  day  we  backed  out  and 
tried  another  passage  by  way  of  the  Bruce  mines,  and  thus 
succeeded  in  hammering  our  way  through  to  the  Sault  in  just 
ten  days  from  the  time  we  left  Mackinaw.  In  the  meantime 
we  had  a  bread  riot,  an  insurrection,  and  once  the  boat  sunk 
to  her  de3k  full  of  water.  She  would  have  remained  there 
perhaps  forever,  but  for  the  aid  of  an  old  fellow,  we  had  named 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  105 

*'  Old  Saleratus,'1  and  at  whom  we  had  poked  all  manner  of 
fun.  He  proved  to  be  a  ship  carpenter,  and  after  we  had  un- 
loaded the  boat  and  pumped  her  up,  he  found  the  leak,  put 
in  a  new  plank,  and  we  proceeded  on  our  way. 

u  We  succeeded  in 'crowding  our  large  Mackinaw  barge  up 
the  rapids  or  falls,  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  embarking  our- 
selves and  provisions,  set  sail  on  Lake  Superior  for  the  Carp 
River  Iron  Region.  After  eight  days  of  rowing,  towing, 
poling  and  sailing,  we  landed  on  the  spot  immediately  in  front 
of  where  Mr.  George  Craig's  dwelling  now  stands.  That  was 
then  called  Indian  town,  and  was  the  landing  place  of  the 
Jackson  Company.  We  put  up  that  night  at  the  "  Cedar 
House,1'  of  Charley  Bawgam.  It  is  true  his  rooms  were  not 
many,  but  he  gave  us  plentj^  to  eat,  clean  and  well  cooked.  I 
remember  that  he  had  fresh  venison,  wild  ducks  and  geese, 
fresh  fish,  good  bread  and  butter,  coffee  and  tea,  and  splendid 
potatoes. 

"  The  next  morning  we  started  for  the  much  talked  of  iron 
hills;  each  one  had  a  pack-strap  and  blanket,  and  was  di- 
rected to  exercise  his  own  discretion  in  putting  into  a  pack 
what  he  thought  he  could  carry.  I  put  up  forty  pounds  and 
marched  bravely  up  the  hills  with  it  for  a  distance  of  two 
miles,  by  which  time  1  was  about  as  good  as  used  up.  Grave- 
raet  came  up,  and  taking  my  pack  on  top  of  his,  a  much 
heavier  one,  inarched  on  with  both,  as  if  mine  was  only  the 
addition  of  a  feather,  while  I  trudged  on  behind,  and  had  hard 
work  to  keep  up.  Graveraet  seeing  how  fatigued  I  was,  in- 
vited me  to  get  on  top  of  his  load,  saying  he  would  carry  me 
too,  and  he  could  have  done  it,  I  believe;  but  I  had  too  much 
pride  to  accept  his  offer.  When  we  arrived  at  the  little  brook 
which  runs  by  George  Rubleiii's  old  brewery,  we  made  some 
tea  and  lunched,  after  which  I  felt  so  much  refreshed  that  I 
took  my  pack  and  carried  it  without  much  difficulty  to  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Cleveland  mine,  then  known  as  Moody 's 
location.  On  our  way  we  had  stopped  a  few  minutes  at  the 
Jackson  forge,  where  we  met  Mr.  Everett,  Charles  Johnson, 
Alexander  McKerchie,  A.  N.  Barney,  N.  E.  Eddy,  Nahum 


106  IIINERAL  RESOURCES 

Keyes,  and  some  others.  At  the  Cleveland,  we  found  CapL 
Sam.  Moody  and  John  H.  Mann,  who  had  spent  the  previous 
summer  and  winter  there.  I  well  remember  how  astonished 
I  was  the  next  morning,  when  Captain  Moody  asked  me  to 
go  with  him  to  dig  some  potatoes  for  breakfast.  He  took 
a  hoe  and  an  old  tin  pail,  and  we  ascended  the  high  hill  now 
known  as  the  Marquette  Iron  Co.'s  Mountain,  and  on  its  pin- 
acle,  found  half  an  acre  partially  cleared  and  planted  to  po- 
tatoes. He  opened  but  one  or  two  hills  when  his  pail  was 
filled  with  large  and  perfectly  sound  potatoes — and  then  said, 
4 1  may  as  well  pull  a  few  parsnips  and  carrots  for  dinner  to 
save  coming  up  again1 — and  sure  enough,  he  had  them  there 
in  abundance.  This  was  in  the  month  of  May. 

"From  this  time  till  the  lOfch  of  July,  we  kept  possession  of 
all  the  iron  mountains  then  known,  west  of  the  Jackson,  em- 
ploying our  time  fighting  mosquitoes  at  night,  and  the  black 
flies  through  the  day;  perhaps  a  small  portion  of  it  was  given 
to  denuding  the  iron  hills  of  extraneous  matter,  preparing 
the  way  for  the  immense  products  that  have  since  followed. 
On  the  10th  of  July,  we  came  away  from  the  mountains,  bag 
and  baggage,  arriving  at  the  lake  shore,  as  we  then  termed  itr 
before  noon.  Mr.  Harlow  had  arrived  with  quite  a  number  of 
mechanics,  some  goods,  lots  of  money,  and  what  was  bet- 
ter than  all,  we  got  a  glimpse  of  some  female  faces.  We 
were  all  much  excited,  and  buoyant  with  the  hope  of  a  bright 
and  dazzling  future  before  us. 

"  At  one  o'clock  of  that  day  we  commenced  clearing  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  Marquette,  though  we  called  it 
Worcester  in  honor  of  Mr.  Harlow's  native  city.  We  began 
by  chopping  off  the  trees  and  brush,  at  the  point  of  rocks 
near  the  brick  blacksmith  shop,  just  south  of  the  shore  end 
of  the  Cleveland  ore  docks.  We  cut  the  trees  close  to  the 
ground  and  then  threw  them  bodily  over  the  bank  on  to  the 
lake  shore;  then,  under  the  direction  of  Capt.  Moody,  we 
began  the  construction  of  a  dock,  which  was  to  stand  like  the 
ancient  pyramids,  for  future  ages  to  wonder  at  and  admire  ! 
We  did  this  by  carrying  these  whole  trees  into  the  water  and 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  107 

piling  them  in  tiers,  crosswise,  until  the  pile  was  even  with 
the  surface  of  the  water.  Then  we  v/heeled  sand  and  gravel 
upon  it,  and  by  the  end  of  the  second  day  we  had  completed 
a  structure  which  we  looked  upon  with  no  little  pride.  Its 
eastward,  or  outer  end  was  solid  rock,  and  all  inside  of  that 
was  solid  dirt,  brush  and  leaves.  We  could  not  see  why  it 
should  not  stand  as  firm  and  as  long  as  the  adjacent  beach 
itself !  A  vessel  was  expected  in  a  few  days,  with  a  large  lot 
of  machinery  and  supplies,  and  we  rejoiced  in  the  fact  that  we 
had  a  dock  upon  which  they  could  be  landed.  On  the  third 
day  we  continued  to  improve  it  by  corduroying  the  surface, 
and  by  night  of  that  day  it  was,  in  our  eyes,  a  thing  of  beauty 
to  behold.  Our  chagrin  may  be  imagined,  when  on  rising 
the  next  morning  we  found  that  a  gentle  sea  had  come  in 
during  the  night  and  wafted  our  dock  to  some  unknown 
point.  Not  a  trace  of  it  remained;  not  even  a  poplar  leaf 
was  left  to  mark  the  spot.  The  sand  of  the  beach  was  as 
clean  and  smooth  as  if  it  had  never  been  disturbed  by  the  hand 
of  man.  I  wrote  in  the  smooth  sand,  with  a  stick;  4  this  is  the 
spot  where  Captain  Moody  built  his  dock.'  The  Captain 
trod  upon  the  record,  and  said  I  would  get  my  discharge  at 
the  end  of  the  month,  but  he  either  forgot  or  forgave  the 
affront.  It  was  a  long  time  before  any  one  had  the  hardihood 
to  attempt  the  building  of  another  dock. 

"  The  propellers  would  come  to  anchor,  sometimes  as  far  as 
two  miles  from  the  shore,  and  the  freight  and  passengers  had 
to  be  landed  in  small  boats.  Our  large  boilers,  when  they 
arrived,  were  plugged,  thrown  overboard,  and  floated  ashore, 
find  the  other  machinery  was  landed  with  our  Mackinaw  boat, 
or  a  scow  which  we  had  constructed.  Cattle  and  horses  were 
always  pitched  overboard  and  made  to  swim  ashore. 

"  Under  the  lead  of  James  Kelly,  the  boss  carpenter,  who 
was  from  Boston,  we  improved  our  time  after  six  o'clock, 
each  evening,  in  erecting  a  log  house  for  sleeping  quarters 
for  our  particular  party.  When  finished  we  called  it  the 
Revere  House,  after  the  hotel  of  that  name  in  Boston.  This 
building  stood  on  its  original  site  as  late  as  1860.  *  *  * 


108  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

About  this  time  we  realized  the  necessity  of  procuring  hay 
for  our  stock.  A  man  called  Jim  Presque  Isle  informed  Cap- 
tain Moody  that  he  knew  of  a  large  meadow  a  short  distance 
above  Presque  Isle,  covered  with  superb  blue-joint  grass;  the 
only  trouble  was  that  it  was  flooded  with  water  too  deep  to 
admit  of  mowing,  but  he  thought  we  could,  with  shovels,  in 
a  few  hours,  cut  a  drain  out  to  the  lake  which  would  carry 
the  water  off.  So  off  we  started  in  our  boat,  armed  with 
shovels,  axes,  scythes,  rakes  and  pitchforks.  Capt.  Moody 
nervously  staked  out  the  ground  for  the  canal,  and  we  dug 
each  way  from  the  centre  for  four  or  five  hours,  and  at  last 
opened  both  ends,  simultaneously,  when  to  our  consternation 
the  waters  of  the  lake  rushed  in  and  raised  that  on  the 
meadow  three  or  four  inches!  We  were  not  more  than  five 
minutes  embarking  all  our  tools  and  getting  off.  We  tried 
to  keep  still  about  the  matter,  but  it  leaked  out  some  way, 
and  was  the  source  of  a  great  deal  of  sport. 

"  We  continued  clearing  up  the  land  south  of  Superior 
street,  preparing  the  ground  for  a  forge,  machine  shop,  saw- 
mill and  coal  house.  Sometime  in  August,  the  schooner  Fur 
Trader  arrived,  bringing  a  large  number  of  Germans,  some 
Irish,  and  a  few  French.  Among  this  party  were  August 
Machts.  George  Rublein,  Francis  Dolf,  and  Patrick,  James 
and  Michael  Atfield.  All  these  have  resided  here  continu- 
ously up  to  the  present  time,  have  been  and  are  good  citizens, 
and  have  become  men  of  property.  Graveraet  and  Clark  had 
been  to  Milwaukee  and  hired  and  shipped  them  on  a  vessel. 
It  was  the  great  cholera  year;  Clark  died  at  the  Sault  on  his 
way  back;  several  others  had  died  on  the  vessel,  and  many 
were  landed  very  sick.  We  were  all  frightened;  but  the  In- 
dians, who  lived  here  to  the  number  of  about  one  hundred, 
had  everything  embarked  in  their  boats  and  canoes  within 
sixty  minutes,  and  started  over  the  waters  to  escape  a  disease 
to  them  more  fearful  than  the  small  pox.  Now,  the  medical 
talent  of  Dr.  Rogers  was  called  into  requisition.  He  laid 
aside  the  hoe  and  axe  he  had  learned  to  handle  so  dexterously, 
and  took  up  the  practice  of  his  profession.  It  was  found,  on 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  109 


examination,  that  there  were  110  real  cases  of  cholera,  but 
many  of  the  new  comers  had  the  typhoid  or  ship  fever,  and 
that  it  was  contagious  was  soon  evident,  for  the  doctor,  and 
perhaps  a  dozen  of  our  young  men  who  had  never  known 
sickness  before,  were  soon  stricken  down  with  it.  Each  one 
of  my  companions  had,  in  succession,  taken  the  position  of 
nurse  in  the  hospital,  (a  rude  building  called  a  hospital  had 
been  erected,)  and  had  in  regular  order  been  taken  down  with 
the  malignant  fever.  It  was  my  turn,  next;  I  looked  upon 
it  as  a  new  promotion,  abandoned  my  oxen,  glad  of  a  change, 
having  no  fear  that  I  would  catch  the  fever,  and  I  did  not. 
About  the  time  I  went  in,  Dr.  Rogers  was  very  low,  indeed, 
unable  to  lisp  a  word,  and  to  this  fact  I  attribute  the  recov- 
ery of  himself  and  associates;  for,  as  I  knew  nothing  of  med- 
icines, I  discarded  them  altogether,  and  by  advice  of  a  Mr. 
Harding,  Mr.  Emmoiis  and  Mrs.  Wheelock,  I  commenced  rub- 
bing and  bathing  them,  and  Mrs.  W.  furnishing  suitable 
food,  the  result  was  that  in  two  weeks  they  were  all  con- 
valescent. Dr.  Rogers  often  said  afterward,  L  if  I  could  have 
told  the  fool  what  medicine  to  give,  he  would  have  killed  us 
all.' 

"  At  this  time  the  first  steam  boiler  ever  se.t  up  in  this 
county  was  ready  to  be  filled  with  water,  and  it  must  be  done 
the  first  time  by  hand.  It  was  a  locomotive  boiler,  and  was 
afterwards  put  into  the  side-wheel  steamer,  "  Fogy,"  which 
plied  between  Marquette  and  Chocolay  so  many  years.  A 
dollar  and  a  half  was  offered  for  the  job,  and  I  took  it;  work- 
ing three  days  and  a  night  or  two,  I  succeeded  in  filling  it. 
Steam  was  got  up,  and  then  I  was  installed  as  engineer  and 
fireman. 

"  That  summer  there  were  but  few  boats  of  any  kind  on 
the  lake.  The  propeller  Independence  was  generally  broken 
down,  and  the  little  propeller  Napoleon,  only  came  three  or 
four  times  during  the  season.  The  reliable  mail,  freight  and 
passenger  craft  was  the  schooner  Fur  Trader,  commanded  by 
the  veteran  Captain  Calvin  Ripley,  from  whom  the  pictur- 
esque rock  in  Marquette  bay  took  its  name.  The  Fur  Trader 


110  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

was  a  small  sail  vessel,  and  usually  made  a  trip  in  three  or 
four  weeks ;  but  it  was  towards  the  last  of  October  and  neither 
she  or  any  other  craffc  had  put  in  an  appearance  for  nine  or 
ten  weeks.     The  stock  of  provisions  was  quite  low;  the  but- 
ter and  luxuries  of  all  kind  were  wholly  exhausted,  only  a 
few  barrels  of  pork  and  flour  remained,  and  the  danger  of 
being  put  on  very  short  rations  was  imminent.     Then  Mr. 
Harding  discovered,  or  pretended  to  discover,  a  conspiracy 
among  the  Germans  to  seize  the  warehouse  and  confiscate 
what  provisions  were  left.      He  volunteered  to  command  a 
guard  to   watch  the  warehouse,   day  and  night.     The   pro- 
visions were  doled  Out  sparingly,  the  Germans  became  very 
much  dissatisfied,  and  a  short  time  after,  (in  November,)  they 
"  struck,"  and  a  large  number  of  them  started  out  of  the 
country,  intending  to  follow  the  lake  shore  to  Grand  Island, 
and    go  from  there    overland  to   Little   Bay  de   Noquette. 
Only  a  few  reached  Grand  Island;  the  weaker  ones,  foot  sore, 
weary  and  hungry,  lagged  at  different  points  along  the  beach, 
and  probably  many  of  them  would  have  .perished  but  for  the 
return  of  those  of  the  party  who  had  reached  Grand  Island, 
and  there  learned  that  a  propeller,  loaded  with  provisions 
had  arrived  here  the  next  day  after  they  left.      So  they  re- 
turned, and  the  cheering  news  revived  the  drooping  spirits  of 
their  comrades,  as  they  came  up  to  them  here  and  there  along 
the  beach,  and  they  finally  all  got  back  wiser  and  better  men. 
None  of  the  Germans  named  as  still  residing  here,  went  off 
with  the  party.     *     *     *     *          *     On  the  27th  of  Novem- 
ber our  boat  was  started  for  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  in  charge  of 
James  Hilliard,  (sometimes  called  Jim  Presque  Isle.)     John 
H.  Mann,  Mr.  Emmons  and  a  German  boy  named  Kellogg 
accompanied  him;  they  were  all  drowned,  the  boat  being  af- 
terwards found  with  two  bodies  in  it,  while  the  body  of  Mr. 
Emmons  was  not  recovered  till  the  following  spring.  % 

u  As  I  have  told  two  stories  that  militate  against  Capt, 
Moody's  skill  as  an  engineer,  it  is  only  fair  that  I  should  re- 
late one  which  redounds  to  his  credit  as  a  navigator.  We 
had  by  some  means  been  apprized  of  the  fact  that  the  schoon- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  Ill 

ers  Swallow  and  Siskiwit  which  had  been  loaded  with  grain  and 
supplies  for  us  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  had  run  by  and  laid  up  for 
the  winter  at  L'Anse.  The  grain  was  absolutely  necessary 
to  keep  the  horses  from  starving.  Capt.  Moody  promptly 
started  for  L'Anse,  accompanied  by  James  Broadbent,  an  old 
salt  water  sailor.  On  their  arrival  there,  they  found  both 
the  vessels  stripped  and  laid  up,  and  what  was  worse,  frozen 
in  the  ice.  But  Moody  had  pluck  enough  to  undertake  any 
task,  no  matter  how  difficult  or  dangerous.  He  and  his  man 
went  to  work  at  once  to  refit  one  of  the  vessels — the  Siski- 
wit— on  the  principle  that  might  makes  right.  They  paid  no 
attention  whatever  to  the  urgent  protests  of  her  owner,  Capt. 
James  Bendr}'.  They  filled  her  with  corn  and  oats  from  the 
Swallow,  and  employed  a  large  number  of  Indians  to  cut  a 
passage  between  two  and  three  miles  long,  through  the  ice,  so 
as  to  float  the  vessel  out  into  the  open  water.  They  got  her 
out  on  Christmas  eve,  and  arrived  here  on  Christmas  day,  the 
sails  frozen  stiff  and  immovable,  and  the  ice  a  foot  thick  on 
her  deck.  They  had  not  seen  land  from  the  time  they  left 
L'Anse  until  they  reached  Marquette  bay,  a  heavy  northwest 
gale  and  snow  storm  prevailing  all  the  time.  The  vessel  was 
unloaded  and  run  into  Chocolate  River,  where  she  lay  until 
spring,  when,  in  coming  out,  she  ran  on  the  beach  and  went 
to  pieces. 

%t  During  that  winter  we  had  three  or  four  mails  only.  Mr. 
Harlow  was  the  first  postmaster,  and  hired  the  Indian  Jim- 
meca  to  go  to  L'Anse  after  the  mail  at  a  cost  of  $10  per  trip. 
I  believe  the  cost  was  made  up  by  subscription. 

u  The  Jackson  Company  had  about  suspended  operations; 
their  credit  was  at  a  low  ebb;  their  agent  had  left  in  the  fall, 
and  was  succeeded  by  u  Czar"  Jones,  the  president,  but  nearly 
all  work  was  stopped,  and  the  men  talked  seriously  of  hang- 
ing and  quartering  Mr.  Jones,  who  soon  after  left  the  coun- 
try. *  *  *  In  the  spring,  (1850)  the  Jackson  Company 
"  bust7'  all  up,  and  all  work  at  their  mine  and  forge  was  sus- 
pended. By  this  time,  the  Marquette  Iron  Co.'s  forge  was 
nearly  completed  and  ready  for  making  blooms.  Many  dwel- 


112  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

lings,  shops,  &c.,  had  been  erected,  together  with  a  small  dock 
at  which  steamers  could  land.  This  dock  still  forms  the  .shore 
end  of  the  Cleveland  Company's  merchandize  pier.  *  * 

"  In  the  fall  of  1850,  B.  F.  Eaton,  and  his  brother,  Watt 
Eaton,  arrived  from  Columbus,  Ohio.  They  had  leased  the 
old  Jackson  forge  and  mine,  and  brought  with  them  an  im- 
mense number  of  men  and  horses,  and  a  large  quantity  of 
supplies.  They  commenced  operations  with  a  grand  flourish 
of  trumpets  and  high  sounding  words  that  bid  fair  to  eclipse 
and  crush  everybody  else  out  of  existence  in  short  order. 
They  burst  all  to  pieces  within  a  year,  and  never  paid  their 
men  a  dollar  in  money — those  who  took  goods  for  pay  were 
wise.  Ben.  Eaton  was  so  disgusted  with  the  country  that  he 
finally  left  the  United  States  and  went  to  Australia,  arid  as 
far  as  I  know  has  never  returned. 

u  In  the  summer  of  1851,  we  had  pretty  hard  times,  gene- 
rally; no  money,  and  not  much  of  anything  else.  I  think  it 
was  in  September  of  that  year,  the  county  was  organized.  I 
was  absent  up  the  lake  shore,  fishing,  at  the  time,  and  on  my 
return  was  informed  that  I  had  been  elected  County  Clerk 
and  Register  of  Deeds.  I  told  my  informant  (Amos  Parish) 
that  I  was  not  of  age;  to  which  he  replied,  that  the  impres- 
sion generally  prevailed  that  I  was  over  thirty,  that  no  one 
would  say  anything  if  I  did  not,  and  that  it  was  very  desi- 
rable to  have  some  one  hold  those  offices  who  could  write.  I 
was  flattered,  and  consented.  Up  to  this  time,  we  had  been 
attached  to  Houghton  county,  the  county  seat  being  at  Eagle 
River. 

"  On  one  occasion  I  was  sent,  in  the  dead  of  winter,  on 
foot  and  alone,  up  to  Eagle  River  to  get  the  county  clerk's 
certificate  to  a  lot  of  legal  documents.  I  went  to  L'Anse, 
thence  across  the  ice  to  Portage  entry,  up  the  river,  over 
Portage  lake  and  across  the  Portage  to  Eagle  River.  1  called 
on  Mr.  Kelsey,  the  county  clerk,  and  attended  to  the  business 
I  had  in  hand.  He  inquired,  'When  do  you  return?'  'To- 
morrow.' '  Oh,  no,'  said  he;  'we  never  allow  a  winter  visitor 
to  depart  under  two  weeks,  and  as  you  are  the  first  man  who- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  113 


has  ever  come  from  Marquette  or  Carp  River  up  here,  by  land, 
we  must  give  you  a  good  time.'  Mr.  S.  W.  Hill  and  Henry 
Parke  came  in,  and  between  the  three  they  agreed  that  I 
should  have  a  big  party  the  next  night.  The  thought  oc- 
curred to  me  whether  I  had  not  better  cut  and  run  for  home, 
but  I  concluded  if  I  should,  and  they  caught  me,  it  would  go 
hard  with  me;  so  I  resolved  to  stay,  and  if  necessary  run  the 
gauntlet,  or  fight  for  my  liberty,  if  cornered.  The  next  day 
Dr.  L.  W.  Clarke,  John  Senter,  Geo.  Senter,  William  Morri- 
son, William  Webb,  Joe  Thatcher,  and  others  called,  paid 
their  respects  and  tendered  various  civilities.  I  watched 
them  all  closely,  but  could  not  discover  that  my  suspicions 
of  a  conspiracy  against  me  were  well  founded.  The  gay 
party  came  off  the  next  evening,  and  all  my  fears  were  dis- 
pelled. I  was  invited  the  next  night  to  a  party  at  Eagle 
River,  and  when  I  argued  that  my  apparel  was  not  suited  for 
parties,  I  was  forcibly  taken  into  Senter's  store,  and  there 
compelled  to  put  on  an  elegant  suit  of  clothes;  and  for  the 
next  eight  or  ten  days  I  was  put  through  such  a  round  of 
pleasures  and  hospitable  attentions  never  before  nor  since  wit- 
nessed by  me.  I  could  not  have  been  more  civilly  feasted  and 
toasted  nad  I  been  the  Prince  of  Wales.  Such  was  the  hos- 
pitality of  the  early  settlers  of  the  copper  region. 

"  At  last,  when  I  was  about  to  leave,  I  was  offered  silver 
specimens,  agates,  or  anything  else  they  had.  My  wants 
were,  however,  few  and  simple,  and  I  said,  'give  me  two  cans 
of  those  elegant  cove  oysters,  to  take  to  my  Carp  River 
friends,  and  I  will  be  delighted.1  I  worked  my  way  back  as 
far  as  Portage  entry,  and  found  the  ice  in  L'Anse  bay  all 
broken  up.  Mr.  Ransom  Shelden  then  lived  at  the  entry, 
buying  fish  and  furs  from  the  Indians.  At  that  day,  copper 
mining  on  Portage  Lake  had  not  been  dreamt  of.  After  my 
arrival  at  the  Entry  I  was  laid  up  for  three  days  with  'Le  mat 
de  Racket,'  or  snow  shoe  sickness.  As  soon  as  I  could  travel, 
I  set  out  through  the  woods  for  the  catholic  mission.  I  knew 
nothing  of  the  route  except  to  keep  in  sight  of  the  bay,  and 
that  I  soon  found  was  impracticable  owing  to  the  impenetrable 


114  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

nature  of  the  underbrush. — so  I  struck  back  for  better  walk- 
ing. The  distance  I  had  to  go  to  reach  the  mission  was  six- 
teen miles,  and  it  seemed  to  me  I  had  traveled  thirty.  I  had 
no  dinner;  it  was  very  cold — 22  degrees  below  zero — the  18th 
of  January — night  was  close  at  hand.  I  crossed  a  little 
valley,  and  as  I  mounted  the  hill,  I  looked  back  of  me  and 
caught  the  only  glance  of  the  sun  I  had  that  day.  I  knew 
that  to  reach  the  mission  I  ought  to  be  going  toward  the  set- 
ting sun!  I  turned  my  course  in  that  direction,  and  in  a 
short  time  came  across  a  single  snow  shoe  track,  and  was 
much  pleased  to  think  I  was  getting  where  some  one  else  had 
so  recently  been;  before  long  I  crossed  another  track  similar 
to  the  first,  and  soon  a  third.  A  little  closer  examination 
convinced  me  that  they  were  all  my  own  tracks,  and  that  for 
hours  I  had  been  traveling  on  a  circle,  only  enlarging  it  a  little 
each  time.  It  was  now  rapidly  growing  dark.  Fortunately  I 
had  matches,  but  I  had  no  axe,  nor  any  provisions,  except  the 
two  cans  of  cove  oysters.  I  succeeded  in  starting  a  fire  at  the 
foot  of  a  dead  cedar  that  leaned  over  into  the  forks  of  a  hem- 
lock, and  as  fast  as  it  burned  to  a  coal  it  would  slide  down  a 
little,  and  thus  my  fire  was  replenished  all  night.  I  was  too 
much  excited  to  be  either  hungry  or  tired  that  night.  I  slept 
some  in  an  upright  or  sitting  posture,  before  the  fire ;  the  snow 
was  about  five  feet  deep,  and  I  had  shaped  an  indentation  of  my 
own  figure  like  a  chair  into  the  snow,  and  lined  it  with  balsam 
boughs,  so  that  it  was  quite  comfortable.  In  the  morning,  after 
breaking  all  the  blades  of  my  congress  knife  in  opening  one 
of  the  cans  of  '  elegant  cove  oysters,'  I  boiled  them  in  the 
can,  -and  tried  to  eat  them;  but  it  was  hard  work;  they 
wouldn't  stay  down.  Through  the  kindness  of  the  good 
Bishop  Baraga,  who  knew  that  I  was  either  hurt  or  lost,  (he 
had  left  the  Entry  after  I  did)  an  Indian  was  sent  out  and 
found  me  about  three  o'clock,  and  before  dark  I  was  safely 
housed  at  the  mission.  After  many  more  hardships,  I  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  home. 

u  I  have  in  this  paper  merely  touched  upon  some  of  the  inci- 
dents of  the  first  two  or  three  years  of  the  history  of  Mar- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


115 


quette  and  the  iron  region.  A  few  houses,  a  stumpy  road 
winding  along  the  lake  shore  ;  a  forge  which  burnt  up  after 
impoverishing  its  first  owners  ;  a  trail  westward,  just  passa- 
ble for  wagons,  leading  to  another  forge,  (still  more  unfortu- 
nate in  that  it  did  not  burn  up,)  and  to  the  undeveloped  iron 
hills  beyond  ;  a  few  hundred  people  uncertain  of  the  future, 
these  were  all  there  was  of  Marquette  in  1851— '2. 

"  Lit  tie  did  we  think  that  the  region  we  came  to  settle 
would,  in  so  short  a  time,  be  known  and  felt  everywhere  ; 
that  its  mineral  products  would  be  borne  by  hundreds  of  ves- 
sels to  the  ports  of  all  the  great  lakes.  The  Sault  canal  was 
then  a  project  the  consummation  of  which  was  devoutly 
wished,  but  not  realized;  and  the  boldest  of  us  had  not 
dreamed  of  a  railroad  from  our  little  hamlet  to  the  iron  hillsi 
We  were  '  building  better  than  we  knew.'  We  had  fallen  into 
the  march  of  the  century,  not  knowing  whither  it  would  lead 
*is.  We  were  like  the  fishermen  of  the  Arabian  Nights, 
who  ignorantly  opened  a  small  sealed  casket,  which  they  had 
drawn  out  of  the  sea  in  their  nets.  It  held  an  imprisoned 
£-euii,  who  emerged  at  first  like  a  little  vapor,  which,  while 
they  wondered  spread  and  ascended  until  it  towered  up  like  a 
vast  column  toward  heaven." 

The  forge  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  paper,  was  completed 
and  made  the  first  bloom  in  just  one  year  from  the  day  Mr- 
Harlow  landed  with  his  men.  It  started  with  four  fires,  using 
ores  from  what  are  now  the  Cleveland  and  Lake  Superior 
mines.  It  continued  in  operation,  rather  irregularly,  until 
1853,  when  the  Marquette  company  was  merged  into  the 
Cleveland,  under  the  auspices  of  which  latter  company,  the 
works  were  operated  until  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  winter  of 
1853. 

In  1852,  John  Downey,  Samuel  Barney  and  others,  began 
the  construction  of  a  forge  on  the  Little  Carp,  but  after  build- 
ing a  few  houses,  a  wheel,  etc.,  abandoned  the  enterprise. 

The  first  opening  at  the 

CLEVELAND    MINE 

was  made  in  1849  by  the  old   Marquette   Iron  Company. 


116  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

During  the  summer  of  that  year,  several  log  houses,  a  large 
log  barn,  and  a  log  boarding  house  were  built,  but  the  actual 
quarrying  of  ore  did  not  commence  till  fall.  During  the  win- 
ter of  1849-'50,  twenty  or  more  double  teams  were  kept 
employed  hauling  ore  from  the  mine  to  the  forge  on  the  lake 
shore,  which  was  then  being  built  and  expected  to  be  com- 
pleted the  following  summer.  It  was  not  necessary  at  that 
time  to  use  powder  in  quarrying  the  ore,  as  thousands  of  tons 
had  rolled  down  and  lay  in  huge  u  stock  piles  "  at  the  base 
and  up  the  sides  of  the  various  iron  hills  in  the  district.  The 
Marquette  Company  continued  to  work  an  opening  on  section 
11,  and  one  on  section  10,  daring  the  years  1S50-'51,  and  in 
the  winter  of  1851-'52,  the  ore  being  hauled  to  Marquette  by 
teams  during  the  winteh  seasons  only.  In  the  winter  of  1852 
this  association  sold  out  to  the  Cleveland  Iron  Company. 
The  Marquette  Iron  Company  was  only  an  association  of  dis- 
cordant elements,  a  mere  partnership,  in  which  each  member 
denied  that  the  others  were  partners.  The  Cleveland  Iron 
Company  was  organized  under  a  special  charter,  granted  by 
the  legislature  previous  to  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitu- 
tion in  1850,  which  last  prohibited  the  legislature  from 
granting  special  charters  to  corporations.  In  the  spring 
of  1853  the  company  abandoned  its  special  charter  and 
organized  under  the  general  mining  law  of  the  State,  as  the 

CLEVELAND   IRON   MINING   CO. 

The  articles  of  association,  which  were  filed  in  April,  1853 
were  signed  by  John  Outhwaite,  Morgan  L.  Hewitt,  Selah 
Chamberlain,  Samuel  L.  Mather,  Isaac  L.  Hewitt,  Henry  F. 
Bray  ton,  and  E.  M.  Clark,— capital  stock,  $500,000;  shares  20,- 
000.  The  title  to,  and  possession  of,  the  Cleveland,  was,  at  an 
early  day  a  "  bone  of  contention"  between  various  claimants. 
The  first  occupant  was  a  Dr.  J.  L.  Cassells,  of  Cleveland,  who 
came  up  from  the  Sault,  in  1846,  and  took  possession  of  one 
square  mile  of  territory  for  the  "  Dead  River  Silver  and 
Copper  Mining  Company.".  The  Cleveland  Company's 
mines  were  included  within  this  territory.  Cassells  left 
the  country  the  next  year,  and  his  claim  was  taken  posses- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  .     117 

sion  of  by  Capt.  Samuel  Moody,  John  H.  Mann,  and  Edmund 
C.  Rogers,  the  first  two  claiming  what  afterwards  became  the 
property  of  the  Cleveland   Company,  and   the  last   named 
41  squatting"  on  the  lands  in  sections  10  and  11,  upon  which 
the  Lake  Superior  Company  originally  organized.   Previously 
the  Marquette  Iron  Company  had  been  organized,  and 'took  a 
lease  of  these  lands  from  Clark  and  Robert  J.  Graveraet,  who 
claimed  to  have  possession  as  the  representatives  of  Moody, 
Mann,  and  Rogers,  with  power  to  sell  or  lease.     A  long  and 
bitter  controversy  over  the  title  followed;  the  Cleveland  Com- 
pany and  Graveraet — the  latter  representing  Mann  and  Moody 
— claimed  priority.   These  conflicting  claims  were  finally  set- 
tled by  a  decision  of  the  Interior  department,  which  accorded 
the  right  of  purchase  to  Lorenzo  Dow  Burnell,  from  whom 
the  Cleveland  Company  purchased.      The  Company  did  not 
enter  all  the  land  in  dispute,  and  what  is  now  the  Lake  Supe- 
rior mine  proper  was  claimed  by  Graveraet,  under  the  Rogers' 
pre-emption,  in  behalf  of  the  Marquette  Company.      Rogers 
had  lost  his  interest  by  failing  to  reach  the  land  office  at  the 
Sault,  in  November  1850,  to  attend  a  Government  sale  of 
lands,  being  detained  by  a  storm  on  the  lake.     The  location 
was  then  purchased  by  one  Isaiah  Briggs,  in  the  interest  of 
John  Burt,  Esq.,  under  an  agreement  to  lease  an  undivided 
one-half  interest   to  Graveraet    for  a  term  of  ninety-nine 
years,  which  agreement  was  carried  out.     Graveraet  assigned 
his  lease  to  the  Marquette  Company,  and  that,  together  with 
the  other  assets  of  the  Marquette  Company,  including   64 
acres  of  land  within  the  present  limits  of  the  city  of  Mar- 
quette, was  purchased  by  the  Cleveland  Iron  Mining  Com- 
pany in  1853.     Subsequently,  the  Graveraet  lease  of  an  un- 
divided one-half  of  what  is  now  the  Lake  Superior  mine  was 
sold  to  the  Lake  Superior  Iron  Company.   Out  of  these  com 
plications  grows  the  present  litigation  between  A.  R.  Har- 
low  and  the  Lake  Superior  Iron  Company,  the  former,  one  of 
the  partners  of  the  Marquette  Company,  now  claiming  that 
he  never  sold  his  interest,  and  bringing  a  suit  to  recover  it, 
together  with  sufficient  damages  to  cover  what  would  have 


118     •  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

been  his  share  of  the  profits  since  earned.     This  suit  is  now 
pending  in  the  Marquette  County  Circuit  Court. 

The  New  England  Mining  Company  was  incorporated  by 
special  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  in  1848.  The  purpose 
for  which  the  Company  was  formed  was  declared  to  be,  the 
mining  and  smelting  of  ores  and  minerals  in  the  state  of 
Michigan,  and  the  capital  stock  was  placed  at  $300,000. 
The  Company  never  accomplished  anything  in  the  way  of 
mining,  however,  and  in  1855  the  charter  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Capt.  E.  B.  Ward,  under  whose  auspices  the  New 
England  mine  was  opened  in  the  spring  of  1864. 

THE   LAKE  SUPERIOR  IRON  COMPANY. 

One  of  the  three  oldest  companies  in  the  district,  filed  articles 
of  association  March  13th,  1853,  capital  stock  $300,000,  divi- 
ded into  12,000  shares  of  $25  each.  The  incorporators  were 
Heman  B.  Ely,  Anson  Gorton,  Samuel  P.  Ely,  George  H^ 
Ely,  and  Alvah  Strong.  The  early  history  of  this  mine  is 
given  in  connection  with  that  of  the  Cleveland. 

THE  EUREKA  IRON   COMPANY 

was  organized  in  1853,  with  a  capital  stock  of  1500,000,  the 
corporators  being  E.  B.  Ward,  Harmon  DeGraife,  Silas  M.. 
Kendrick,  M.  T.  Howe,  P.  Thurber,  Thomas  W.  Lockwood, 
and  Francis  Choate.  The  company  was  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  mining  Lake  Superior  ores,  and  manufacturing  char- 
coal pig  iron.  A  start  was  made  to  build  a  furnace  near  Mar- 
quette,  but  the  location  was  changed  to  Wyandotte,  where 
a  furnace  was  completed  and  became  the  nucleus  of  the  ex- 
tensive iron  works  now  in  operation  there.  The  company 
purchased  of  Mr.  Harlow  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
just  west  of  Marquette,  where  they  undertook  to  develop  a 
mine.  Considerable  money  was  spent  and  a  few  hundred  tons 
of  ore  mined,  when  the  location  was  abandoned,  the  company 
becoming  convinced  that  the  ore  did  not  exist  in  sufficient 
quantity  to  warrant  further  expenditure.  The  land  was  sub- 
sequently sold  back  to  Mr.  Harlow,  who  is  still  the  owner 
A  lease  of  the  property  was  taken  by  some  Marquette  parties, 
a  year  or  two  since,  and  a  feeble  effort  has  been  made  to  open 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  119 

a  mine  in  or  near  the  old  Eureka  Company's  opening,  but 
thus  far  without  success.  It  is  believed  by  many  that  a  work-; 
able  deposit  of  good  ore  will  ultimately  be  found  on  the  prop- 
erty. 

THE   COLLINS   IRON"   COMPANY 

was  organized  in  1853,  and  filed  articles  of  association  Novem- 
ber 8th.  The  original  members  of  the  company  were, 
Edward  K.  Collins,  of  steamship  fame,  New  York,  Solon 
Farnsworth.  Edwin  H.  Thomson,  Robert  J.  Graveraet  and 
Charles  A.  Trowbridge  ;  capital  stock  $500,000.  This  com- 
pany built  a  forge  in  1854,  and  began  to  make  blooms  in  the 
fall  of  the  following  year.  In  1858,  Stephen  R.  Gay,  under 
whose  supervision  the  Pioneer  furnace  at  Negaunee  had  been 
built  the  previous  year,  leased  the  forge,  and  put  up  a  cupola, 
in  which  he  made  some  pig  iron.  The  company  then  erected 
a  blast  furnace,  the  work  being  done  under  Mr.  Gay's  super- 
vision. It  was  completed  and  went  into  blast  on  the  13th  of 
December,  1858.  The  Collins  Company  also  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  near  the  New  York  and  Cleveland  mines,  where  a 
very  considerable  sum  of  money  was  expended  in  explora- 
tions, without,  however,  developing  anything  of  value. 

THE   PENINSULAR   IRON    COMPNAY 

filed  articles  of  association  August  28th,  1854:,  capital  stock 
$500,000.  The  corporators  were  William  A.  Burt,  Austin 
Burt,  Wells  Burt,  John  Burt,  Heman  B.  Ely,  Samuel  P.  Ely, 
and  George  H.  Ely.  The  company  acquired  the  title  to  800 
acres  of  land,  wnich  was  subsequently  sold  to  the  Lake  Su- 
perior Iron  Company.  A  blast  furnace  was  built  by  the  Pen- 
insular Company  at  Hamtrainok,  Detroit,  in  1863,  and  in 
1874  became  the  owners  of  the  Carp  River  furnace,  Mar- 
quette. 

THE   FOREST   IRON   COMPANY 

filed  articles  of  association  September  22d,  1855,  with  a  cap- 
ital stock  of  $25,000.  The  corporators  were  Mathew  McCon- 
nell,  Wm.  G.  Butler,  .Wm.  G.  McComber,  M.  L.  Hewitt  and  J. 
G.  Butler.  McComber,  McConnell  and  Butler  had  built  a  forge 
on  Dead  River,  where  the  Bancroft  furnace  now  stands,  and  be- 


120  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

coming  embarrassed  they  sought  relief  through  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  company  with  sufficient  capital  to  continue  the  works 
in  operation.  The  company  failed,  however,  after  a  brief 
career,  and  the  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  Stephen  R. 
Gay,  who  in  1860  erected  a  blast  furnace  on  the  site  of  the  old 
forge. 

THE   PIONEER   IRON"   COMPANY, 

to  the  original  projectors  of  which  belongs  the  honor  of  hav- 
ing erected  and  put  into  operation  the  first  blast  furnace  on 
Lake  Superior,  was  the  conception  of  Mr.  Chas.  T.  Harvey, 
its  first  manager.  Having  induced  some  New  York  capital- 
ists to  embark  in  the  enterprise  of  building  a  blast  furnace 
on  Lake  Superior,  work  was  commenced  in  June,  1857,  though 
it  is  noticeable  that  the  company's  articles  of  association  were 
not  filed  until  the  20th  of  July  following.  The  corporators 
were  Moses  A.  Hoppock,  Win.  Pearsoll  and  Charles  T.  Har- 
vey. .The  builders  were  Stephen  R.  Gay  and  Lorenzo  D. 
Harvey,  the  furnace  being  completed  so  as  to  make  her  first 
iron  in  February;  1858.  It  was  a  double  stack  furnace,  and  is 
still  known  as  the  Pioneer,  although  the  property  of  another 
company.  It  is  located  in  the  city  of  Negaunee,  convenient 
to  the  Jackson  mine,  from  which  its  principal  supply  of , ore 
is  obtained,  under  the  terms  of  a  mining  contract — the  fur- 
nace owners  mining-  their  own  ore.  and  paying  to  the  Jackson 
Company  a  royalty  of  one  dollar  per  ton  of  iron  made.  The 
furnace  made  no  money  in  the  first  few  }*ears  of  its  existence. 
In  1860  it  was  leased  to  I.  B.  B.  Case  for  a,  term  of  four  years,  he 
agreeing  to  pay  all  the  expenses,  including  royalty  on  the  ore, 
and  deliver  the  iron  on  board  vessel  at  Marquette,  for  $17.50 
per  ton.  This  was  less  than  the  iron  could  be  made  for,  and 
as  a  consequence,  Mr.  Case  lost  money,  though  the  advance 
in  prices  occasioned  by  the  war  materially  increased  the  reve- 
nues of  the  company.  The  furnace  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
August,  1864,  but  number  two  stack  was  immediately  rebuilt. 
In  1856,  the  furnace  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Iron  Cliff 
Company,  by  whom  it  is  still  owned  and  operated. 

The  foregoing  are  about  all  the  companies  that  were  organ- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  121 

ized  previous   to  1859,  which   are  still  at  work,  or  which  de- 
veloped properties  that  have  since  passed  into  other  hands. 


RAILROADS. 

When  the  first  opening  was  made  in  the  iron  deposit  on 
the  Jackson  location,  there  were,  perhaps,  not  to  exceed  50  ' 
white  inhabitants  within  the  present  limits  of  Marquette 
county.  There  was  then  nothing  but  an  Indian  trail  from  the 
"  Mouth  of  the  Carp1'  to  the  u  Iron  Mountain."  Upon  the 
erection  of  the  Jackson  forge  a  wagon  road  was  constructed 
from  thence  to  the  mine,  and  when,  a  few  years  afterward  it 
was  concluded  that  our  iron  deposits  would  pay  for  working, 
the  road  was  completed  from  the  lake  to  the  mountain.  Then 
n  plank  road  was  projected,  commenced  in  1853  or  1854,  and 
completed  in  1856.  It  was  subsequently  converted  into  a 
tram  railway,  on  which  mules  were  used  as  locomotives,  and 
answered  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  designed,  until,  in 
185 7,  what  is  now  the 

MARQUETTE,  HOUGHTOST,  AND   ONTONAGON  R.  R., 

was  completed  between  Marquette  and  the  Lake  Superior 
mine.  The  question  of  transportation  of  the  rich  ores  of 
Marquette  county  to  the  furnaces  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania, 
was  one  which  came  to  be  seriously  considered  at  an  early 
day.  A  canal  around  the  St.  Mary's  Falls  was  scarcely  more 
to  be  desired,  so  far  as  the  iron  region  was  concerned,  than 
was  the  construction  of  a  railroad  for  the  transportation  of 
the  ores  to  the  lake  side.  Accordingly,  in  1851,  a  year  before 
the  grant  of  lands  for  the  construction  of  a  canal  around  the 
Falls  was  made  by  the  general  government,  Messrs.  Heman 
B.  Ely  and  John  Burt  began  to  agitate  the  question  of  a 
railroad,  and  the  next  year  Mr.  Ely  caused  a  survey  to  be 
made.  There  being  no  general  railroad  law  in  the  State  at 
that  time,  Mr.  Ely,  assisted  by  his  brothers,  Samuel  P.  and 
Geo.  H.  Ely,  undertook  the  work  as  an  individual  enterprise, 
having  previously  made  a  contract  with  the  Jackson  and 


122  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Cleveland  Companies,  and  with  Mr.  John.  Burt  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  other  companies,  for  the  transportation  of  all 
their  ores.  This  contract  the  two  first-named  iron  compa- 
nies subsequently  attempted  to  break,  and  sought  to  defeat 
the  railroad  by  constructing  a  plank- road  in  opposition  to  it, 
thus  instituting  a  serious  and  embarrassing  controversy, 
which  continued  until  1855,  when  all  matters  of  dispute  then 
pending  between  the  Railroad  Company,  under  charge  of  Mr. 
Ely,  and  the  Plank-road  Company,  under  charge  of  Mr.  S. 
H.  Kimball,  were  submitted  to  arbitration,  and  settled  to  the 
satisfaction  of  both  parties — Messrs.  C.  T.  Harvey  and  Aus- 
tin Burt  being  arbitrators.  Immediately  after  the  pas- 
sage of  the  General  Railroad  Law  of  this  State,  in  1855,  the 
Messrs.  Ely  incorporated  the  railroad  under  the  title  of  the 
Iron  Mountain  Railroad,  and  John  Burt  was  first  President. 
A  year  later  the  company  was  strengthened  by  the  addition  of 
Jos.  S.  Fay,  Edwin  Parsons,  Lewis  H.  Morgan,  and  other  cap- 
italists; and  in  1857,  the  road  was  completed  and  put  in 
operation.  Mr.  H.  B.  Ely,  to  whose  foresight  and  energy  the 
origin  and  success  of  the  enterprise  was  largely  due,  and  to 
whom  the  interests  of  Lake  Superior  became  otherwise 
greatly  indebted,  died  in  Marque  tie,  in  1856,  before  the  work 
upon  which  he  had  labored  so  intently  was  completed. 

The  death  of  his  brother,  and  his  own  connection  with  the 
road,  was  the  occasion  of  bringing  to  Marquette  Mr.  S.  P. 
Ely,  who  has  since  been  more  largely  identified  with  the  bus- 
iness management  of  many  of  the  leading  enterprises  in  the 
Iron  Region  than  any  person  resident  on  "  Lake  Superior/' 
The  Iron  Mountain  Railroad  became,  subsequently,  a  part  of 
the  Bay  de  Noquette  and  Marquette  Railroad,  this  becoming 
afterwards,  by  consolidation,  the  Marquette  and  Ontonagoii 
Road,  and  still  later,  by  further  consolidation,  a  part  of  the 
through  line  of  the  Marquette,  Houghton,  and  Ontonagoii 
Railroad.  The  plank-road,  to  which  reference  has  been  made, 
was  built  by  the  Jackson  and  Cleveland  Companies  jointly, 
but  was  never  used  as  a  plank-road;  longitudinal  sleepers 
were  laid  down,  and  covered  with  strap-rail,  on  which  horse- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  123 

cars  were  run.     The  road  was  used  for  two  seasons,  and  cost 
$120,000,  which  amount  was  practically  sunk. 

c.  &  »".  w.  "KAILWAY. 

In  the  year  1857  a  negotiation  was  completed  between  the 
Chicago,  St.  Paul  &  Fond  du  Lac  Railroad  Company,  through 
the  Hon.  Win.  B.  Ogden,  its  President,  and  the  railroad  and 
plank-road  proprietors,  by  whicji  that  company  became  the 
owners  of  both  roads  (the  Iron  Mountain  Railroad  and  the 
plank-road,)  and  of  the  charter  of  the  Marquette  &  Wiscon- 
sin State  Line  Railroad,  to  which  the  grant  of  public  lands 
had  been  made  by  Congress.     In  virtue  of  these  transfers  it 
was  expected  that  a  railroad  line  would  be  immediately  built 
from  Fond  du  Lac  to  a  point  on  the  Menominee  river,  in 
township  -±1   north,  range  30  west,  from  whence  it  was  to 
diverge  in  two  branches — one  to  Marquette,  and  the  other  to 
Ontonagon.     But  the  panic  and  financial  crisis  of  that  year 
prevented  the  negotiation  of  the  proposed  loans  in  Europe 
upon  the  basis  of  the  land  grants;  the  Chicago, St.  Paul  &  Fond 
du  Lac  Company  retained,  however,  the  Marquette  &  State 
Line  Railroad  charter.     In  the  course  of  time  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railway  Company  succeeded  to  the  property 
and  effects  of  its  predecessor,  including  the  Marquette  &  State 
Line  land  grant.     It  seemed  impracticable  then  to  build  a  line 
of  railroad  on  the  route  first  surveyed  in  1857,  and  accord- 
ingly the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Company  obtained  from 
Congress   the  privilege  of  a  change  in  the  line  of  the  Mar- 
quette &  State  Line  road  to  the  Green  Bay  shore  and  the 
present  line   of  the   Peninsula  division.     This   line   was  so 
nearly  identical  with  that  of  the  Bay  de  Noquette  and  Mar- 
quette grant,  that  the  latter  company  determined  not  to  con- 
tinue the  line  to  Bay  de  Noquette.     The  land  grants,  as  to  their 
interfering  provisions,  were  adjusted  by  mutual  consent  be- 
tween the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  and  the  Bay  de  Noquette 
Companies,  and  the  latter  company  became  merged  in  inter- 
est with  the  Marquette  &  Ontonagon  Railroad. 

The  preliminary  survey  of  the  Peninsula  Division  line  was 
made  in  1865,  it  being  then  the  intention  of  the  company  to  run 


124  MINERAL   RESOURCES 


their  road  from  the  head  of  Little  Bay  de  Noquette  to  Chocolay, 
four  miles  below  Marquette.  The  next  spring,  however,  the 
present  line  was  selected,  and  work  commenced  on  the  4th  of 
July.  In  a  little  less  than  eighteen  months,  the  track  was 
laid  into  Negaunee,  and  in  less  than  two  years  after 
ground  was  broken  at  Escanaba,  the  cars  were  carrying  ore 
and  passengers  over  the  line.  The  main  line  is  62^  miles  in 
length,  with  about  twenty  miles  of  track  branching  off  from 
Negaunee  to  the  mines.  The  business  of  the  road  has  more 
than  answered  the  expectations  of  the  company. 

In  1872  connection  was  made  between  the  Wisconsin  and 
Peninsula  Divisions  of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Railway  by  the  com- 
pletion of  the  company's  main  line,  from  Fort  Howard  to 
Escanaba.  In  the  same  year  the  Marquette,  Houghton  & 
Ontonagon  Railroad  was  opened  to  I/Anse,  thus  making 
complete  railway  communication  from  the  head  of  Keweemiw, 
or  L'Anse  Bay  to  Chicago,  a  distance  of  nearly  500  miles. 

The  legislature  of  1875  passed  an  act  granting  a  most 
liberal  subsidy  of  State  lands  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a 
railroad  from  Marquette  to  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw  ;  also,  for 
the  building  of  the  Menoniinee  Range  Railroad  from  some 
point  on  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern,  below  Escanaba,  to  the 
new  and  promising  iron  mines  on  the  Menominee  river.  This 
last  road  will  be  completed  to  the  Quinesaik  mine  in  town 
40  north,  range  30  west,  Menominee  county,  the  present  year. 
The  line  from  Marquette  to  Mackinaw  will,  doubtless,  be  com- 
pleted in  the  near  future,  when  with  an  extension  of  the  M. 
H.  &  0.  to  Ontonagon,  a  line  from  L'Anse  to  Houghton,  and 
a  branch  from  the  Marquette  &  Mackinaw  to  Sault  Ste.  Marie, 
the  railway  system  will  be  complete.  It  is  confidently  hoped 
and  believed,  however,  that  when  the  Northern  Pacific  Com- 
pany shall  have  completed  its  line  between  the  head  of  Lake 
Superior  and  Puget's  Sound,  it  will  seek  an  eastern  connec- 
tion along  the  south, shore  of  Lake  Superior  with  the  Cana- 
dian Pacific  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  thus  constitute  itself  a 
grand  trans-continental  line  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  125 


GEE   DOCKS. 

In  addition  to  complete  and  ample  equipment  for  the  trans- 
portation of  ore  over  their  lines,  the  M.  H.  and  0.  R.  R.  and 
N.  W.  Railway  companies  have  extensive  ore  docks  at  Mar- 
que tte,  L'Anse  and  Escanaba.  At  the  latter  point  there  are 
two  of  these  docks,  one  of  which  is  1,300  feet  in  length, 
32  feet  in  height,  and  37  feet  wide,  with  a  sufficient  number 
of  pockets  to  hold  20,000  tons.  The  other  is  nearly,  if  not 
quite,  as  extensive,  the  two  costing  something  near  half  a 
million  dollars. 

The  M.  H.  and  0.  R.  R.  Company's  dock  at  Marquette  has 
a  total  length  of  1,2224-  feet,  is  38  feet  high  above  the  water, 
and  53  feet  wide.  It  is  supplied  with  four  railway  tracks 
upon  which  the  ore  cars  are  run  over  the  pockets.  There  are 
136  pockets,  situated  on  both  sides,  of  which  120  have  a 
capacity  of  55  tons  each,  and  16  (steamboat  pockets,)  of  100 
tons  each.  Eight  vessels  can  receive  cargoes  at  the  same 
time,  and  a  vessel  of  average  tonnage  can  be  loaded  in  one 
hour  and  thirty  minutes.  It  is  estimated  that  the  dock  has  a 
capacity  for  handling,  with  ease,  500,000  tons  during  a  single 
season  of  navigation.  A  partial  view  of  this  dock  may  be 
seen  in  our  illustration  of  Marquette  in  1875. 

The  Cleveland  Iron  Mining  Company's  ore  dock  at  Mar- 
quette is  so  exactly  similar  to  the  one  last  referred  to,  that  it 
is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  a  detailed  statement  of  its  size 
and  capacity.  Both  are  elaborate  and  costly  structures,  and 
together  have  a  sufficient  capacity  to  meet  all  the  requirements 
of  the  ore  trade  for  years  to  come. 

The  Railroad  Company's  dock  at  L'Anse,  has  a  total  length 
of  546  feet,  is  36  feet  wide  and  38  feet  high,  and  contains  80 
vessel  pockets,  40  on  each  side,  with  four  steamboat  pockets 
at  the  outer  end.  The  pockets  will  hold  about  75  tons  each, 
and  four  vessels  and  one  steamer  can  be  loaded  at  the  same 
time.  It  is  not  nearly  so  large  as  the  other  docks  referred  to, 
but  can  be  extended  whenever  it  may  be  necessary  to  provide 
for  increased  transportation  facilities  at  that  point. 


126  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Both  railway  companies  have,  in  addition  to  their  ore  docks, 
extensive  merchandise  piers  at  their  lake  termini. 
ST.  MART'S  FALLS  SHIP  CANAL. 

From  the  time  of  the  first  attempt  to  develop  the  mineral 
resources  of  Lake  Superior,  till  the  summer  of  1857,  a  period 
of  twelve  years,  the  Falls  of  the  St.  Mary's  river  formed  an 
insuperable  barrier  to  communication  between  Superior  and 
the  lower  lakes.  These  falls  or  rapids  are  nearly  opposite  the 
village  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie  and  about  one  mile  in  length,  the 
fall  being  about  seventeen  feet.  As  has  been  stated,  a  number 
of  steamers  had  been  drawn  over  the  portage  between  the 
years  ISIS-'SO,  but  until  the  completion  of  the  canal,  in  1857, 
all  articles  of  commerce,  the  products  of  the  copper  and  iron 
mines,  merchandise,  etc.,  had  to  be  transhipped  at  the  Sault. 
To  facilitate  this  transhipment,  a  fiat  bar  railroad  was  con- 
structed, and  remained  in  use  until  the  rapidly  growing  inter- 
ests of  the  Lake  Superior  region  demanded  that  the  barrier 
should  be  wholly  removed.  The  necessity  for  the  improve- 
ment being  brought  to  the  attention  of  Congress,  a  grant  of 
land  amounting  to  750,000  acres  was  secured  to  aid  in  the 
construction  of  a  ship  canal  around  the  falls.  These  lands 
were  given  in  trust  to  the  State  of  Michigan,  and  on  the  5th 
of  February,  1853,  the  State,  by  act  of  the  legislature,  accepted 
the  grant,  and  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  let  a  contract  for  the  construction  of  the  canal,  and 
to 'select  the  lands. 

These  commissioners  made  a  contract  with  Joseph  P.  Fair- 
banks, Erastus  Corning  and  others,  who  agreed  to  build  and 
complete  the  canal  within  two  years,  the  consideration  being 
the  lands  granted  by  the  general  government.  This  contract 
was  soon  after  assigned  to  the  St.  Mary's  Falls  Ship  Canal 
Company,  which  had  been  organized  in  New  York  on  the 
14th  of  May,  1853,  under  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  that 
State.  Immediately  after  the  passage  of  the  act  granting  the 
lands,  a  survey  for  the  canal  was  made  by  Mr.  Charles  T. 
Harvey,  who,  on  the  organization  of  the  company  was  made 
general  agent  and  superintendent  of  construction.  This 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOE.  127 

survey,  in  which  Mr.  Harvey  was  assisted  by  Mr.  L.  L.  N. 
Davis,  an  experienced  engineer  from  the  Erie  canal,  was  made 
late  in  the  fall  of  1852. 

Early  in  the  season  of  1853,  Mr.  Harvey,  with  400  men, 
proceeded  to  the  Sault,  and  on  the  4th  of  June  broke  ground 
for  the  canal.  The  remoteness  of  the  locality,  and  many 
other  unfavorable  circumstances,  rendered  the  construction  of 
a  work  of  such  magnitude  exceedingly  difficult,  and  necessi- 
tated at  every  step  of  the  operations  unusual  care  and  energy 
in  the  management  as  well  as  heavy  pecuniary  expenditures. 
Mr.  Harvey  remained  in  control  of  the  construction  for  one 
year,  when  he  was  relieved  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  finance, 
and  also  appointed  agent  for  the  State  to  select  lands  under 
the  grant,  in  the  Upper  Peninsula.  Mr.  Harvey  selected 
about  200,000  acres  of  land,  39,000  of  which  were  taken  in 
Marquette  county,  and  were  subsequently  sold  for  $500,000 
cash,  to  the  Iron  Cliff  Company.  Among  the  copper  lands 
selected  was  the  quarter  section  on  which  the  Calumet  and 
Hecla  Company's  mine  is  situated,  and  which  was  sold  by  the 
canal  company  for  §60,000,  now  worth  not  less  than  $20,- 
000,000.  The  750,000  acres  granted  by  the  general  govern- 
ment were  entered  by  the  company  as  follows:  on  the  Upper 
Peninsula,  262,283  acres  of  iron,  copper,  and  timber  land,  and 
487,717  acres  of  pine  land  in  the  Lower  Peninsula. 

During  the  summer  of  1854  the  difficulties  necessarily 
attendant  upon  building  the  canal  were  very  much  enhanced 
by  disease  among  the  workmen,  some  200  of  whom  died  of 
the  cholera,  and  among  them  was  Mr.  Ward,  who  had  charge 
of  the  construction.  Mr.  Harvey  was  then  again  placed  in 
charge  of  the  work,  which,  owing  to  the  panic  among  the 
workmen,  had  become  nearly  suspended;  but  by  the  exercise 
of  much  skill  and  energy  he  succeeded  in  reorganizing  the 
force,  and  pushing  the  work  vigorously  forward  to  final  com- 
pletion. On  the  19th  of  April,  1855,  the  water  was  let  into 
the  canal,  and  in  the  following  June  the  work  was  opened  for 
public  use,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  John  Burt. 


128  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


The  total  cost  of  the  original  construction  of  the  canal, 
which  includes  also  the  expense  attendant  upon  the  selection 
of  lands,  as  contained  in  the  report  of  the  company  under 
date  of  January  1st,  1858,  was  $999,802.46. 

The  Michigan  Legislature,  by  joint  resolution,  adopted  in 
1869,  ceded  the  canal  to  the  General  Government  but  it  has 
never  been  formally  accepted;  nevertheless,  under  its  system 
of  internal  improvement,  the  National  Government  has  made 
the  most  liberal  appropriations  for  its  enlargement,  and  also 
for  the  construction  of  a  new  one,  which  last  is  designed, 
when  completed,  to  be  adequate  to  all  the  requirements  of  com- 
merce. Considerably  over  one  million  dollars  have  been  ex- 
pended on  the  improvement  of  the  canal,  the  total  cost  of 
which,  it  is  expected,  will  exceed  $2,000,000. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  Congress  may  yet  be  prevailed  upon 
to  accept  the  ownership  of  this  great  improvement.  It  is  a 
public  work  in  which  the  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan 
not  only,  but  all  the  Lake  States,  if  not  the  country  at  large, 
feel,  or  should  feel,  an  interest.  It  was  originally  constructed, 
as  has  been  seen,  wholly  at  the  expense  of  the  General 
Government,  and  has  never  cost  the  State  of  Michigan  one 
dollar  that  was  not  repaid  in  tolls  imposed  by  the  State 
Board  of  Control.  The  General  Government,  while  leaving 
the  canal  to  the  ownership  and  control  of  the  State,  is  ex- 
pending large  sums  of  money  in  its  enlargement.  It  should 
assume  the  ownership  and  control  as  well,  and  then  make  it 
absolutely  free,  and  no  longer  permit  one  State  to  manage, 
control,  and  impose  a  tax  upon  a  great  public  work,  which 
was  built  at  the  expense  of  all  the  States.  What  Lake 
Superior  wants  is  free  and  unrestricted  water  communication 
with  the  other  lakes — that  will  never  be  obtained  until  the 
canal  passes  into  the  hands  and  under  the  obsolute  control 
of  the  General  Government. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


129 


The  following  table  showing  the  amount  of  receipts  for 
tolls,  etc.,  taken  from  the  annual  report  of  Superintendent 
Gorton,  indicates,  to  some  extent,  the  rapid  development  of 
the  Lake  Superior  mineral  interests.  It  must  be  remembered 
that,  since  the  opening  of  the  canal,  other  mean^  of  transport- 
ation have  been  provided,  and  a  very  considerable  part  of 
the  annual  product  of  the  mines  and  furnaces  finds  an  outlet 
at  Escanaba  and  through  Lake  Michigan: 


STATEMENT  SHOWING  THE  AMOUNT  OF  RECEIPTS  FOR  TOLLS, 
AMOUNT  OP  TONNAGE,  AND  NUMBER  OF  PASSAGES  OF  BOTH  STEAM 
AND  SAIL  VESSELS,  AND  DATES  OF  OPENING  AND  CLOSING  THE  CANAL. 


| 

aj 

JB 

o 

g 

p 

S 

g| 

1 

c  ^ 

*W 

1 

w 

1 

5 

0 

I* 

02 
=0 

p 

O 

o 
0 

M 

o 

6 

o 
H 

1855... 

S  4,374  (16 

106,299.00 

June  18. 

November  23. 

18o6... 

7,575  78 

101.4:^8.00 

_ 

May  4. 

November  '28. 

1857.. 

9,406  74 

180  820.00 



May  9. 

November  30. 

1858.. 

10,848  80 

219.8-900 

April  18. 

November20. 

1859.. 

16,941  84 

352,612.00 

May  3. 

November  28. 

I860.. 

24,777  82 

403.65".  00 

May  11. 

November  26. 

16.672  16 

276.639  00 

May  3. 

November  14. 

18ri2'. 

21,607  17 

359,612.00 

April  27. 

November  27. 

1863.     . 

30,574  44 

507,^34.00 

April  28. 

November  24. 

1864.     . 

34,287  31 

571,438.00 

1,04? 

366 

1,411 

May  2. 

December  4. 

1865.   . 

22,339  64 

409,062.00 

602 

395 

997 

May  1. 

December  3. 

1866.   .. 

23.069  54 

458,530.00 

555 

453 

May  5. 

December  2. 

1867.   .. 

33.515  54 

556,898.76 

H39 

466 

L30r> 

May  4. 

December  3. 

1868.... 

25.977  A 

432,463.47 

817 

338 

1,155 

May  2. 

December  3. 

1869.... 

31,579  96 

524,884.72 

939 

399 

1,33S 

May  4. 

November  29. 

1870.... 

41,896  43 

690,82591 

1,397 

431 

1,828 

April  29. 

December  1. 

1871  .... 

33,865  45 

752.100.54 

1,064 

573 

1.637 

May  8. 

November  29. 

1872.... 

41.232  44 

914,735.03 

1,212 

792 

2.004 

May  11. 

November  26. 

1873.... 

44.943  18 

1,204,445.25 

1,549 

968 

2,517 

May  5. 

.November  18. 

3874  

38.922  97 

1,070,857.18 

833 

901 

1.734 

May  12 

1875!"! 

41J99  04 

1,259,'533!53 

493 

1,462 

2^033 

May  12. 

Includes  steam  barges  and  consorts. 


From  the  same  report  we  take  the  following  tables,  show- 
ing the  amount  of  freight  carried  to  and  from  Lake  Superior 
ports,  through  the  canal,  between  May  12  and  September  30, 
1875: 


130 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


NATURE  AND  AMOUNT  OF  FREIGHT  CARRIED   TO  LAKE  SUPERIOR 

PORTS  DURING  THE    SEASON   OF   1875. 


ARTICLES. 

NAME  OF  LINE. 

1 
£- 

Buffalo  Boats. 

Chicago  Boats. 

Canadian  Boats. 

Steam  Barges 
and  Consorts. 

Sailing  Vessels. 

Pork,  bbls  
Flour,  bbls. 

1,585 
7,245 
1,142 
11,571 
61,339 
171,069 
73,143 
8.130 
70,635 
8,179 
17,282 
15,439 
2,365 
4,452 
39,282 
425 
71,241 
12,85? 
29.573 
19,053 
12,431 
12,178 
5,845 
93 

4835 
9,074 
4.129 
369,660 
383,487 
407^930 
126,395 
82,020 
6.912 
10.244 
1,029 
4,014 
382 
435 
581 
2U3 
109,531 
681 
5,620 
11,470 
839 
2  777 
'  12 
8 

2.482 
6,881 
8,431 
95.161 
12.760 
48,4*3 
23,530 
4,  -00 
4  670 
1,240 
637 
685 
906 
13  1 
3,526 

24,2  i  9 
1.420 
4,870 
4.0-14 
426 
7,240 
66 
81U 

""" 

'••-•• 

8.902 
28,200 
13,702 
476,392 
457.586 
625.4  .'2 
233.068 
94  350 
Si  !.2  17 
19,663 
18  948 
20.138 
3.655 
5,021 
43.989 
'100 
205.021 
14,963 
40.063 
34,567 
16,345 
23.800 
101,260 
1,018 

Beef,  bhls 

Bacon,  Ibs  

Lard,  Ibs.. 

Butter,  Ibs  
Cheese,  Ibs  
Tallow,  Ibs  

Candles,  boxes  

Soap,  boxes  

"'6u6 

l',799 

b'i',528 

Apples,  bbls 

Sugar,  bbls  

Tea,  chests.. 

Coffee,  bags  .  .  . 

Salt,  bbls  

Vine  far,  bbls 

""850 
1  605 
2d,8u9 
707 

Tobacco,  Uos... 

Hails,  kegs  
Dried  fruit,  ft>s  
Vegetables,  bush  
Lime,  bbls 

Merciiaridis-  ,  tons  
Coal,  tons  .... 

Lumber,  M  

Shingles,  M.  .  . 

Lath,  M  

Window  glass,  boxes  
Hay,  tons  

1,230 
809 
162 
33 
147 
4 
1,029 
7,627 
1,053 
12 
42 

2.184 
265,633 
422 
866 
6,265 
20 
1,25S 
5 
3,031 
654 
40 
1,829 
6 
123 
200 

4fcO 
809 
923 

1421 
526 

11  1*4 

30,292 
106 
1 
33 
46 
1,515 
591,600 
1,101 
190 
231,701 
1.823 
59 

""122 
229 

237 
6-9 
606 
347 
0<>3 
338 
14 
1.589 
255 
1 
2 
97 
819  ' 
6,000 
56 
8,703 
12,114 
232 
42 
26 
124 
42 

'"m 

'"iis 

1.953 
2.:5  o 
1.601 

4J7 
2.171 

MS 

2.7131/3 
39,478 
1.414 

U 

160 
4,518 
863.233 

i..y,y 

11,817 
250.  OSU 
2.075 
1.359 
31 
3.277  - 
926 
40 
2,829 
6 
123 
200 
3.639 
60 
45 
185 
150 
13.495 
11.6661/2 

Cattle,  head  

Horses  and  mules,  head. 
Sheep,  head  

653 

Hogs,  head.  .. 

Brick,  M. 

Furniture,  pieces  
Machinery,  ions  
Engines.*  

'2.176 

":::: 

Boi  crs  

Wagons 

Liquors,  bbls 

Malt,  ibs  
Es;gs,  bbls..  . 

""498 

Railroad  iroji,  tons  
Coarse  grain,  bus-h  

Ground  feed,  tons  
Bar  iron,  tons 

Powder,  tons  
Kerosene  oil,  bbls. 

Lard  oil,  bbls  

Moulding  sand,  tons  
Uement,  bbls. 

500 

Stoves  

Syrup,  bbls  

'  V.525 

il',970 

Empty  bbls.   
Beer,  half-bbls. 

'  3,039 
60 

'"45 
125 
150 

Crockery,  bbls  

Telegraph  wire. 

Road  scrapers  

Wheelbarrows  .  . 

Limestone,  tons  

Passengers  

3,669Mi 

777 

8.220 

OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


131 


NATURE  AND  AMOUNT  OF  FREIGHT  CARRIED  FROM  LAKE  SUPERIOR 

PORTS  DURING   THE   SEASON  OF   1875. 


ARTICLES. 

NAME  OF  LINE. 

1 
c5 
\i>- 

bJO 

p 
'3 

02 

13 

I 

Buffalo  Boats. 

g 
o 
M 

1 
o 

s 

o 

Canadian  Boats. 

Steam  Barges 
and  Consorts- 

Maps  copper,  tons  
Ingot  copper,  tons  
btanip  works,  tons  
Iron  ore,  tons  
Pi^  iron,  tons  

2,060 
12,534 
8,636% 
1,970 

17,354l,4 

'"ios 

"  7,67*8 
13,774 
98 
3,255 

81 
28,600 
4,(Ju7 
175 

""378 

65 

2,125 
12,632 
S,6382£ 
493,408 
40,  556  Hi 
847 
10005 
4,504 
41,181 
13,887 
3,473 

I,2i3,'788 
286,791 
1,672 
758 
299 
770 
218 
54 
540 
93 
28 
565 
2.9T8V4 
123 

b4 
79rf 
8 
2,978 
8 
25 
27 

8.019 

339,856 
7,019 

143.910 

2,409 

suvcr  ore,  tons  

500 
4.549 
4,423 

8,700 

4,131 
57 

489*015 

228,349 
573 

758 

2<9 
2,201 

Hides  .  . 

Knrs  and  pelts,  bundles. 
Tallow,  Ibs 

5,881 
4,849 

"  i",397 

250,466 
4,000 
40 

'  i'.sii 
115,666 

Fish,  hall'-bbls  

Lumber,  M  
Shingles,  M  
Wheat,  bush  
Flour,  bbls  
Feed,  tons  

359,373 
51.064 
1,059 

Potash,  casks 

CU  cake,  tons  
Merchandise,  tons  
Fresu  fish,  cars...  . 

299 
561 

218 

'"ittH 

'"3714 

Itags,  tons  

54 
540 

liariev,  tons  

J  torses  

10 
5 
500 
69 
123 
1U 
84 
85 
8 
2,978 
8 

24 
8 
65 
629  X 

59 
20 

Wagons 

Railroad  iron,  ions  
Building  stone,  tons  
Potatoes,  bbls  
Bones,  ions  

20 

2,2t>0 

10 

Scrap  iron,  tons  

Slate,  tons  
Wool,  tons  

71-  i 

Empty  beer  kegs  
Household  goods,  boxes. 
Whisky,  bbls  



25 
27 
75 
4.008  "4 

Do^s  

Lead  ore,  tons  

Passengers  

3,424^ 

586 

132  MINERAL   RESOURCES 


GEOLOGY  OF  THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR  IRON  REGION. 

BY  CHAS.   E.   WRIGHT,  M.   E. 


The  rock  formations  of  our  iron  district  are  embraced  un- 
der  two   grand   divisions,  the  Archean  and  Silurian.     The 
former  is  divided  into  two  periods,  the  Laurentian  and  Huro- 
nian.     These  are  usually  tilted  at  high  angles,  their  inclina- 
tion or  dip   being  more  frequently  greater  than  forty-five 
degrees   (45°)  than   less.     The  Silurian  age,  the  Upper   and 
Lower  groups,  is  represented  on  the  Upper  Peninsula  of  Mich- 
igan by  the  Potsdam,  Calciferous,  Trenton,  Niagara,  Onon- 
daga  and  Helderberg  periods.     They  are   nearly  all  horizon- 
tally bedded  or   dipping   only  slightly  to  southward*     The 
Silurian  rocks,  and  the  overlying  drift,  include,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  narrow  neck  of  the  Huronian,  all  the  country  of 
the  Upper   Peninsula  of  Michigan,  south   and  east  of  Mar- 
quette.     To  the  casual  observer,  the  Archean   rocks,  in  their 
broken  and  contorted  beds,  appear   to  have  had  no  system  in 
their  formation — in  texture  and  structure,  irequeiitly  resem- 
bling the  igneous  rocks  rather  than  the  sedimentary,  and  even 
to-day  are  spoken  of  by  some  geologists,  as  being  in  a  "  fluid 
state,"f  or  are  referred  to  a  deep-seated   Volcanic  (Plutonic) 
origin.     By  other  geologists  their  probable  equivalents   are 
considered^   as   highly   metamorphosed   sedimentary   strata. 
The  latter  theory  we  have  accepted  as  best  explaining  the  nu- 
merous facts  we  have  observed,  not  only  in  the  field  but  those 
recently  brought   to  light  by  the  application  of  the   micro- 
scope.    Before  beginning  with  the  older  period,  the  Lauren- 

*See  Michigan  Geological  Report,  1873,  Part  III. 
tMichigan  Geological  Report,  1873,  Part  III. 
JGeology  of  Canada,  1863,  Page  22. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  133 

tian,  which   underlies   all  of  our  other  rocks,  without  it  be, 
perhaps,   an   occasional  primitive  island   arising  above  the 
former  level  of  the  Laurentian  sea,  we  will  review  briefly  the 
architecture  of  the  rocks  of  this  section,  which  may  enable  us 
to  understand  more  clearly  the  ideas  we  wish  to  present.  Let 
us  imagine,  if  you  please,  the  primitive  earth's  crust,  com- 
posed chiefly  of  granitic  rocks,  which  have  formed  and  par- 
tially crystalized  out  of  the   amorphic  magma,  constituting 
the  outer  zones  of  the  earth's  shell.     After  their  formation 
and  even  during  its  process,  began  the  abrading  forces  of  na- 
ture, no  doubt  largely  assisted  by  the  corroding  influence  of 
a  dense  and  acid  atmosphere,  gradually  wearing  away  the  more 
prominent  features  of  the  earth's  rocky  face,  depositing  the 
loosened  particles  in  the  primitive  and  barren  valleys  of  early 
time.     When  the  sediment  had  attained  considerable    thick- 
ness, commenced  the  metamorphism  of  the  strata,  affording 
us  the  metaniorphic  granites  and  other  crystaline  rocks  of  the 
Laurentian  period.     Then  followed  a  disturbance  and  tilting 
up  of  the  strata,  caused  in  a  measure  by  the  crystallization  of 
the  sediments  and  consequent   enlargement  of  the  mass,  due 
to  the  fact  that  the  crystallized  material  occupies  more  space 
than  the  amorphic,  and  by  the  contraction  of  the  entire  earth 
or   globe,  aided   largely,  no  doubt,  by   the   expansion  of  the 
outer  shell,  from  the  heat   generated  by  this   shrinking  and 
consequent   motion,  and  to  many  other  causes,  which  even 
their  simple  enumeration  would   require  more  space  than  we 
can  spare.     Our  Laurentian  rocks  are  formed;  and   now  fol- 
lows another   period,   not  of  rest,  however,  for  nature   never 
ceases  her  labors,  but  coupled  with  time   is  constantly  pro- 
ducing something  new.    Sne  has  already  begun  with  her  rude 
tools  the  gigantic  task  before  her.  The  lofty  mountain  ranges 
and  noble  peaks  of  granite,  slowly  but  surely  disappear  be- 
fore her  persistent  energy,  until  nothing  remains  of  their 
grandeur  save   the  low,  insignificant  rounded  knobs  of  the 
Laurentian.     As  nothing  goes  to  waste,  so  do  we  find  again 
the   material  of  the  Laurentian  mainly  re-deposited  in  the 
valleys  of  what  is  known  as  the  Huronian  sea.     The  question 


134  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

ab  once  arises  in  our  minds,  how  account  for  the  different 
kinds  of  rocks?  The  simplest  explanation  we  can  offer  for 
this  is  to  advise  our  questioner  to  examine  any  exposure  of 
coarsely  crystalline  rocks,  where  can  be  best  observed  the 
effects  of  weathering,  and  satisfy  himself  of  the  decomposi- 
tion and  dissolving  out  of  some  of  the  chemical  elements  of 
the  minerals,  of  which  the  rock  is  composed,  and  then  to 
consider  that  these  chemical  ingredients,  combining  with 
others  are  carried  away  and  deposited  directly,  or  by  some  in- 
termediate agent,  elsewhere.  On  the  other  hand,  if  he  be  of 
a  mechanical  turn  of  mind,  let  him  watch  closely  a  muddy 
stream  made  turbid  by  some  local  cause,  and  notice  that  the 
water  gradually  becomes  clearer  the  farther  it  recedes  from 
the  disturbing  force — the  coarser  particles  are  precipitated 
first,  but  many  of  the  finer  ones  are  held  in  the  current 
until  they  reach  the  still  waters  where  they  slowly  sub- 
side to  the  bottom  of  the  lake  or  sea.  The  result  of  this 
chemical  or  mechanical  action  is,  that  the  sedimentary  strata 
they  form  are  usually  different  in  composition  from  the  parent 
rock.  Then  again,  thermal  waters  impregnated  with  solvent 
agencies  may  percolate  the  sedimentary  beds  and  carry  away 
in  solution  some  of  the  ingredients,  thereby  changing  the 
chemical  nature  of  the  material  and  affording  a  new  mineral 
constituent.  The  many  theories  advanced  to  account  for  the 
formation  of  rocks,  suggest  an  exhaustless  subject;  so  for  fear 
of  exceeding  our  limits  we  will  turn  again  to  examine  another 
era  in  that  wonderful  plan  of  creation.  We  will  suppose  the 
deposition  of  the  Huroriian  period  to  have  ceased,  and  the 
metamorphism  and  upheaval  of  the  beds,  wrought  no  doubt, 
by  agencies  similar  to  those  of  the  Laurentian,  to  have  ended. 
Nature  again  commences  her  work  of  levelling  the  mighty 
monuments  she  has  constructed,  as  evidence  of  her  great 
power,  and  as  before  she  gathers  up  the  ruins  of  the  previous 
ages  and  reconstructs  from  them  the  lower  beds  of  the  Silu- 
rian. In  this  age,  however,  she  has  left  behind  unmistakable 
evidences  of  the  presence  of  life.  To  the  existence  of  this  inter- 
mediate agent  is  largely  due  the  formation  of  the  Paleozic  and 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR,  135 

more  recent  limestones.  The  Silurian  sea,  teeming  at  intervals 
with  organic  life,  has  supplied  the  carbonate  of  lime  and  mag- 
nesia it  held  in  solution,  to  construct  the  shells  and  frames  of 
the  fauna,  which  thrived  in  that  period,  and  their  remains, 
when  erratic,  have  settled  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea  and  formed 
immense  calcareous  beds,  which  subsequent  metamorphism  has 
changed  into  magnesian  limestone.  To  consider  these  mem- 
bers in  detail,  or  continue  upwards  through  the  succeeding 
ages  to  the  present  time,  would  oblige  us  to  go  outside  of  the 
Iron  District  we  purpose  to  describe,  and  therefore  would  be 
foreign  to  our  subject. 

There  now  remains  the  comparatively  recent  Grlacial  period, 
which  has  had  much  to  do  with  forming  the  present  features 
of  the  country.  Nearly  everywhere  in  our  iron  district  on 
the  exposed  surfaces  of  the  granite  and  the  quartzy  ones  of 
the  Huronian  may  be  seen  groovings  and  stria3  ploughed  out 
or  engraven  by  the  glaciers.  These  markings  have  nearly  a 
common  trend,  and  from  them  we  learn  that  the  glaciers  have 
traveled  from  northeast  to  southwest,  scattering  the  boulders 
held  within  their  icy  embrace  often  hundreds  of  miles .  from 
their  native  ledge.  As  a  singular  instance  may  be  cited  an 
immense  boulder  of  lean  magnetic  iron  ore  lying  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  Menominee  river,  just  above  the  mouth  of  Pine 
river,  Wisconsin.  This  boulder  was  originally  partially  ex- 
posed, but  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  was  left  directly  over  a 
long  line  of  magnetic  attraction,  and  to  its  huge  size,  parties 
have  completely  undermined  it,  to  satisfy  themselves  that  it 
was  not  an  outcrop  of  a  solid  ledge.  These  erratics  of  mag- 
netic iron  ore  are  strewn  promiscuously  through  the  drift 
south  and  southeast  of  the  iron  ranges,  and  frequently  play 
strange  freaks  with  the  explorer's  compass.  Sometimes  so 
strong  is  this  local  attraction  that  the  north  or  south  end  of 
the  needle  will  continue  to  point  to  one  place  when  traveling 
around  it,  even  when  the  circle  is  a  hundred  yards  or  more  in 
diameter.  Farther  south,  in  northern  Wisconsin,  where  the 
drift  is  often  very  deep,  the  boulders,  apparently  deposited  in  a 
morraine,  have  dammed  the  streams,  ;i  backing  up"  the  water 


136  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

for  miles  above,  while  below  these  irregular  dams  are  often 
dangerous  rapids.  With  the  Glacial  period  closes  our  hasty 
review  of  the  architecture  of  the  rocks  of  the  iron  district 
and  those  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  upper  peninsula  of 
Michigan. 

We  will  now  examine,  stratigraphically,  the  members  of 
the  periods  we  have  been  considering. 

In  the  Laurentian  fields  are  probably  isolated  islands  of 
primitive  rocks,  but  as  yet,  they  have  never  been  discovered, 
owing  to  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  between  igneous 
and  metamorphic  granites,  and  to  the  fact  that  the  Lau- 
rentian on  Lake  Superior  is  comparatively  an  unexplored  dis- 
trict. The  Laurentian  formation  of  our  iron  region  is  com- 
posed chiefly  of  granites  and  gneissoid  rocks.  The  granites 
are  medium  to  coarse  grained.  The  essential  minerals  are 
generally  plainly  visible.  The  granites  are  usually  massive 
and  strongly  jointed.  The  jointing  planes  are  veiy  promi- 
nent, and  along  the  sides  of  cliffs  present,  sometimes,  bold 
and  very  even  faces,  which  frequently  are  mistaken  by  ex- 
plorers for  stratification.  The  bedding  planes  are  ordinarily 
very  obscure  and  difficult  to  distinguish,  but  with  sufficient 
care,  they  may,  in  most  cases,  be  made  out. 

Many  of  our  granites  would  be  valuable  as  building  stone, 
and,  no  doubt,  could  be  used  for  all  purposes  to  which  these 
rocks  are  applied.  In  all  the  thin,  transparent  sections  of  the 
Laurentian  granites  that  we  have  examined  under  the  micro- 
scope can  be  easily  recognized  the  feldspar,quartz  and  mica,  and 
as  accessory  minerals  may  be  counted  magnetite,  hematite, 
amphibole,  etc.  The  feldspars  (monoclinic  and  triclinic)  are 
generally  slightly  altered,  and  the  mica  sometimes  wanting, 
(pegmatite)  while  the  quartz  is  apparently  unchanged.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  the  various  stages  of  decomposition  of  the 
feldspar,  commencing  along  the  cleavage  planes  and  producing 
at  first  only  a  slight  fogginess,  then  a  mossy  like  appearance, 
mottled  with  limpid  spots,  and  finally,  in  the  latter  stages,  a 
micro-granular  mass,  indistinct^  outlined.  In  the  quartz 
may  be  seen  numerous  very  small  liquid  filled  cavities,  aver- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  137 

aging  say  one  four  thousandth  of  an  inch  across,  and  which 
contain,  an  extremely  minute  vacuum  or  gas  bubble. 
These  tiny  bubbles  are  usually  in  constant  motion,  dashing 
merrily  about  in  their  narrow  confines.  The  presence  of 
these  fluid  inclusions  and  the  absence  of  any  glass  or  stone 
filled  cavities,  so  common  to  known  igneous  rocks,  has  had 
much  to  do  in  convincing  us  of  the  sedimentary  origin  of 
the  Laurentian  rocks.  Under  the  microscope,  in  the  polar- 
ized light,  the  sections  present  a  very  interesting  field,  and  it 
is  apoarently  evident  from  their  structure  and  texture  that 
these  granites  have  crystallized  "  in  situ."  Passing  from  the 
Laurentian  to  the  Huronian,  we  enter  the  home  of  our  iron 
ores. 

Beginning  at  the  foot  of  the  Huronian  ladder,  which  we 
will  suppose  has  nineteen  steps,  we  venture  upwards.  These 
steps,  we  will  assume,  correspond  to  Major  T.  B.  Brooks'  di- 
vision of  the  Huronian  series.  The  first  four  steps  are  repre- 
sented by  mica  schist,  quartzite,  magnesian  schist,  small  quan- 
tities of  specular  ore,  and  locally  large  deposits  of  lean  flag 
iron  ores.*  From  the  west  end  of  Cascade  mine  has  been 
taken  considerable  first-class  ore.  The  other  mines  situated 
on  this  range  are  now  idle.  Leaving  this  unclassified  field 
we  arrive  at  No.  V.  In  this  member  we  find  Massive  Quartz- 
ites,  which  often  graduate  into  Dolmitic  Marbles. 

An  analysis  of  the  Morgan  furnace  limestone  from  this 
formation,  afforded: 

€arb.  of  lime 49.10 

darb.  of  magnesia 41.00 

Oxide   of  iron .43 

Silica 8.00 

Undetermined 1.47 

100.00 

The  novaculites,  which  have  furnished  excellent  hones,  be- 
long to  this  formation  ;  also  some  of  the  talcose  schists. 
Taking  another  step,  we  reach  No.  VI.,  which  is  an  Actinolo- 

*See  Brooks'  report.  1873,  page  147. 


138  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

magnetic  Quartz  Schist,  banded  with  purplish,  brownish  and 
grayish  slaty  layers  that  are  from  one-sixteenth  to  two  inches 
in  thickness.  On  weathered  surface  it  appears  somewhat 
arenaceous.  Under  the  microscope  the  actinolite  (fibrous 
hornblende),  quartz  and  magnetite  are  easily  recognized. 
Ascending  still  higher  to  No.  VII.  we  find  a  Hornblende 
Rock.  It  is  usually  medium  grained,  and  dark  greenish  black 
in  color,  finely  sprinkled  with  gray.  Massive  and  jointed, 
rarely  ever  showing  any  signs  of  bedding,  and  were  it  not 
that  these  rocks  are  associated  with  other  plainly  stratified 
members,  it  would  be  quite  impossible  to  define  their  original 
structure.  Under  the  microscope  a  section  of  the  rock  is  seen 
to  consist  chiefly  of  amphibole  and  quartz,  with  plain  and 
striated  fragments  of  feldspar,  brownish  scales  of  mica,  and 
magnetite.  These  rocks  are  commonly  known  in  the  iron 
district  as  "  greenstones,"  or  u  trap,1'  and  have  been  fre- 
quently mistaken  by  geologists  for  diorites. 

No.  VIII.  of  our  series  is  a  Banded  Magnetic  Quartz  Schist, 
differing  from  VI.  in  containing  less  actinolite,  while  many  of 
the  layers  on  their  polished  edges  present  a  graphic  appear- 
ance, from  small  and  dendritic  fragments  of  brownish  jasper. 
Formation  No.  IX.  is  a  Hornblende  Rock,  similar  to  VII.  It 
contains,  however,  more  quartz  and  less  mica  and  feldspar. 
No.  X.  Banded  Magnetic  Quartz  Schist,  very  similar  to  the 
previous  magnetic  schist.  It  is  much  harder  and  jasperyi 
and  there  is  less  distinction  in  the  texture  and  color  of  the 
stripes.  Under  the  microscope  the  base  of  the  rock  appears 
composed  of  small  angular  quartz  grains  averaging  about  one 
six  hundredth  of  an  inch  across.  Scattered  through  this  base 
are  numerous  still  smaller  particles  of  magnetite,  also  fra-g- 
ments  of  actinolite.  This  formation  in  some  localities  in- 
cludes the  so-called  soft  hematite  ores.  It  is  possible  that 
these  soft  ore  deposits  are  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of 
the  richer  and  less  quartzy  portions  of  this  belt,  caused, 
probably,  from  the  dissolving  out  of  the  finely  divided  silica, 
by  thermal  alkaline  waters.  This  appears  all  the  more  plausi- 
ble, since  in  formation  V.  the  marbles  are  traversed  by  irregular 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  139 

veins  of  quartz,  which  are  evidently  due  to  the  infiltration 
of  water  holding  silica  in  solution ;  and  further,  these  dolo- 
mitic  beds  are  often  altered  into  silicious  marbles  or  even 
quartzites  apparently  from  the  replacement  of  the  carbonates 
by  silica.  Advancing  another  step  up  our  imaginary  ladder, 
we  encounter  a  massive  Hornblende  Rock,  No.  XL,  apparently 
identical  with  No.  IX.  Under  the  microscope  may  be  seen  in 
the  thin  sections  large  fragments  of  orthoclase  feldspar,  and 
fiorous  ones  of  amphibole.  The  former  often  enclose  the  lat- 
ter. No.  XII.  is  a  Specular  Quartzose  or  jaspery  Schist  ;  it  is 
often  finely  banded,  and  on  the  smooth  surface  across  the  bed- 
ding presents  a  very  laminated  structure.  Where  a  bending 
in  the  formation  has  taken  place,  as  at  the  Republic  mine, 
may  be  seen  some  very  interesting  instances  of  folding  and 
miniature  faulting.  Each  stripe  or  group  of  them  is  so  well 
characterized  that  they  may  be  recognized  at  a  glance,  even 
where  the  throw  has  been  several  inches,  or  even  feet,  to  the 
right  or  left.  In  this  formation,  as  in  X.,  are  found  valuable 
deposits  of  soft  hematite  ores. 

One  more  step  we  climb,  and  the  true  iron  belt  is  before 
us.  In  this  member,  No.  XIII.,  are  represented  all  the  known 
varieties  of  the  magnetic  and  red  oxides  of  iron.  The  mag- 
netic ores  vary  from  a  fine  steely-grained  to  a  coarse  granu- 
lar texture.  The  specular  ores  are  sometimes  granular  to 
steely-grained,  or  are  more  or  less  micaceous.  The  magnetic 
ores  are  usually  massive  and  jointed,  while  the  specular 
ores  are  massive  to  slaty.  The  steely  varieties  are  very  hard 
to  drill,  and  when  massive  and  without  joints  require  an  end- 
less amount  of  sledging  to  reduce  them  to  the  proper  size  for 
handling.  On  the  other  hand,  some  coarse  granular  magnetic 
ores  and  micaceous  specular  slate  ores  may  be  easily  crumbled 
in  the  fingers.  The  first-class  ores  are  very  rich,  and  when 
carefully  selected,  average  above  65  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron, 
though  lumps  weighing  several  tons  can  be  had  that  are  within 
one-half  per  cent,  of  absolute  purity.  The  beds  are  from  a  few 
feet  to  one  hundred  or  more  in  thickness.  The  deposit  of  ore 
often  appears  to  be  in  lenticular  shaped  masses,  one  lense  over- 


140  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

lapping  the  other.  The  transition  from  the  red  to  the  black 
oxides  is  usually  quite  abrupt,*  and  small  hand  specimens 
may  be  obtained^  where  one  side  is  nearly  pure  magnetite  and 
the  other  portion  composed  of  specular  ore.  Nearly  all  the 
specular  ores  have  minute  particles  of  magnetite  disseminated 
through  them.  On  the  foot  and  hanging  walls  are  often  nar- 
row beds  of  chlorite  and  talcose  schists.  Imbedded  in  some 
of  these  chloritic  rocks  overlying  the  magnetic  ores  are  gar- 
net crystals  altered  into  chlorite,  though  some  of  them  are 
partially  unchanged. 

Reluctantly  we  leave  the  ore  formation  to  examine  the 
next  member  of  the  Huronian  series,  No.  XIV.  It  is  a  Gray 
Quartzite,  of  an  even  and  somewhat  arenaceous  texture. 
Sometimes  it  is  slightly  micaceous;  it  differs  from  the  Lower 
Quartzite  in  being  less  vitreous,  and  is  apparently  not  so  highly 
metamorphosed.  The  quartzite  at  some  of  the  mines  passes 
into  a  jaspery  Quartz-Conglomerate  or  Breccia.  Continuing 
our  ascent,  we  find  No.  XV.,  usually  represented  by  a  Black 
Slate.  It  is  frequently  pyritiferous,  and  contains  a  small  per- 
centage of  graphite;  in  some  places  it  is  quite  plumba- 
ginous. 

We  have  not  seen,  as  yet,  in  Marquette  county  any  slate 
beds  suitable  for  roofing  purposes,  though  in  the  Huron  Bay 
district  are  inexhaustible  quantities  of  first-class  roofing 
slates. 

Next  in  order  is  a  Limonitic  Schist,  No.  XVI.  It  is  possible 
that  this  is  only  a  decomposition  of  the  more  pyritiferous 
lenses  of  the  slate,  or  is  derived  in  the  same  manner  from  the 
anthopyllitic  schist — No.  XVII. — immediately  above.  The 
so-called  anthophyllitic  schist  is  composed  of  anthophyllite 
and  actinolite,  with  an  admixture  of  oxide  of  manganese  and 
of  iron,  also  graphite.  The  anthophyllite  is  easily  recognized 
by  its  radiated  form.  It  is  highly  probable  that  portions  of 
this  belt  are  sufficiently  rich  in  manganese  to  make  them  val- 
uable for  Bessemer  iron  ores.  No.  XVIII.  is  supposed  to  be 

*Champion,  Republic,  and  other  mines. 
tEdwards  Mine. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  141 

a  Quartzite.  One  more  effort  and  we  reach  what  we  suppose 
to  be  the  upper  member  of  the  lower  Huronian,  No.  XIX. 
This  is  a  Mica  Schist,  holding  crystals  of  staurolite  and  an- 
dalusite;  the  staurolite  is  very  prone  to  form  crystals  that 
are  crossed  either  at  right  angles,  or  at  a  very  oblique  one. 
Having  now  very  imperfectly  considered  the  character  of  the 
different  strata  of  the  Huronian,  we  will  sketch  as  briefly  as 
may  be,  from  our  own  observations,  aided  largely  by  the  pub- 
lished results  of  others,!  the  outlines  of  the  different  periods 
of  our  Iron  District.  Beginning  with  the  Lower  Silurian, 
we  find  in  the. southeastern  portion  of  the  city  limits  of  Mar- 
quette,  isolated  patches  and  bays  of  brown  sandstone, 
nearly  horizontally  bedded,  and  resting  unconformably  on 
and  against  the  Huronian.  The  Lower  Silurian  member  has 
an  irregular  shore  line  as  we  proceed  southward  from  this  lo- 
cality. The  first  six  miles  its  course  is  southwesterly,  the 
sandstone  resting  on  the  Huronian.  We  continue  south  about 
fifteen  miles,  along  a  very  crooked  shore  composed  of  granite; 
when  following  this  dividing  line  we  travel  westward  some 
twelve  miles  further;  then  in  a  gentle  curve  we  re  turn  to  our 
southward  course,  and  in  town  42,  range  27  west,  we  cross  a 
neck  of  Huronian  nearly  six  miles  wide.  Leaving  this  we 
skirt  along  the  granite  beach  for  fifteen  miles  more,  when 
we  meet  again  the  Huronian,  which  forms  the  coast  of  the 
Potsdam  for  twenty  miles  or  more,  where  it  intersects 
the  Meiiominee  river  and  enters  Wisconsin.  Returnino- 

O 

again  to  Marquette,  we  find  the  Potsdam  sandstone  skirting  the 
south  shore  of  Lake  Superior  nearly  all  the  way  to  Keweenaw 
Bay,  and  from  thence  southwest  ward,  there  appears  to  have 
been  an  extensive  Lower  Silurian  bay,  having  for  its  north- 
west shore,  the  Copper  Range,  or  upper  Huronian.  The 
formation  before  us  has  furnished  very  excellent  brown  sand- 
stone for  building  purposes,  and  many  of  the  variegated  va- 
rieties obtained  from  the  Marquette  quarries  cannot  be  sur- 
passed for  beauty  or  durability.  In  the  Huronian  period  it 
would  be  practically  impossible  to  define  the  shore  lines  of  the 


SSee  Michigan  Geological  Report,  1873. 


142  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Huronian  sea,  owing,  as  we  have  seen,  to  the  bending  and 
upheaval  of  the  strata,  and  the  subsequent  erosion.  Our  pur- 
pose, then,  is  not  to  describe  original  boundaries,  but  rather 
to  trace  out  the  upturned  edges  of  the  strata.  Glancing  over 
this  section  of  the  country  we  find  the  Huronian  fields,  lim- 
ited by  granite,  or  covered  by  the  overlying  Silurian  and  drift. 
The  general  trend  of  the  formation  in  the  Marquette  district  is 
nearly  east  and  west,  and  as  we  proceed  westward  from  Mar- 
quette it  gradually  widens,  until  at  Negaunee  it  appears  to 
have  attained  its  maximum  width  of  about  thirteen  miles. 
The  upper  members  of  the  Huronian  are  apparently  wanting 
between  Marquette  and  just  east  of  Negaunee.  The  strata 
form  a  broad  synclinal  trough,  resting  on  granite.  The 
synclinal  is  corrugated  in  the  direction  of  its  axis  with  sev- 
eral minor  folds.  West  and  south  of  Negaunee  and  about 
Ishpeming,  these  minor  corrugations  are  contorted  and  their 
upturned  edges  have  a  serpentine-like  course.  Nature  here, 
apparently,  in  one  of  her  uneasy  moods,  has,  by  disturbing 
the  strata,  brought  to  light  her  buried  treasures,  and  ren- 
dered easy  of  development  the  several  first-class  specular  iron 
ore  mines  about  Negaunee  and  Ishpeming. 

The  Jackson  mine  at  Negaunee,  is  the  oldest  iron  mine  of 
the  district,  and  its  products  are  largely  sought  for.  At  Ish- 
peming we  have  the  Lake  Superior,  Barnuni,  Cleveland,  New 
York,  Lake  Angeline,  and  other  mines.  Their  ores  are  of  the 
best  quality  and  cannot  be  excelled. 

About  Negaunee  are  located  a  number  of  soft  hematite 
mines.  These  ores  are  in  good  demand  by  Bessemer  pig  iron 
makers,  owing  to  their  low  percentage  of  phosphoric  acid. 
Southward  of  Ishpeming  are  the  Saginaw,  Winthrop,  and 
other  mines.  The  Saginaw  ores  are  the  first-class  specular 
varieties,  while  those  of  the  Winthrop  are  being  used  for  the 
manufacture  of  Bessemer  iron. 

As  we  continue  westward  from  Ishpeming  the  formation 
again  becomes  more  regular,  though  here,  as  east  of  Negau- 
nee. may  be  observed  the  inferior  folds.  On  the  south  rim  of 
our  broad  synclinal  are  located  the  Washington,  Edwards, 


01T  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  143 


Keystone  and  Champion  mines.  In  the  Washington  and 
Edwards  mines  the  ore — a  fine  quality  of  magnetic — occurs 
in  pockets  or  irregular  shaped  lenses,  while  at  the  Keystone 
and  Champion  the  ore  belt  is  more  uniform.  At  the  Cham- 
pion the  vein  or  bed  is  nearly  vertical,  and  on  the  lower  level 
of  the  mine  it  is  about  one  hundred  feet  wide.  The  ores,  the 
magnetic  and  specular,  are  of  a  very  superior  quality,  and  in 
their  present  workings  are  very  low  in  phosphorus  and  sul- 
phur. 

The  Huronian,  westward  from  Ishpeming,  gradually  nar- 
rows until  it  reaches  Michigamme  Lake,  where  it  is  only  two 
miles  wide.  The  northern  edge  of  the  trough  maintains  its 
course  along  the  nortli  shore  of  the  lake,  and  includes  within 
its  iron  belt  the  Michigamme  and  Spurr  iron  mines;  also 
other  and  undeveloped  mines.  The  ores  of  the  Michigamme 
and  Spurr  mines  are  of  the  highest  standard,  and  the  former 
promises  soon  to  lead  the  iron  mines  of  Lake  Superior  in  the 
amount  of  production. 

After  we  leave  the  Spurr  mine  the  course  of  the  formation  ap- 
pears to  be  west-northwest,  and  when  we  arrive  at  a  point  about 
eight  miles  south  of  L'Anse  the  formation  takes  a  short  turn 
to  the  northeast,  but  before  reaching  Lake  Superior  it  dips 
under  the  Potsdam,  sandstone,  and  we  return  about  five  miles 
further  to  the  northwest,  in  nearly  a  parallel  direction,  on 
the  northwest  side  of  the  Huron  Mountains,  along  the  Lower 
Silurian  shore  line  to  L'Anse.  Coming  back  to  the  east  end  of 
Michigamme  Lake,  and  tracing  the  southern  rim  of  the  syn- 
clinal, we  find  it  makes  a  gradual  southwesterly  turn  and  in 
an  easy  curve  comes  round  to  a  southeasterly  direction,  con- 
forming in  a  measure  to  the  east  side  of  Michigamme  Lake 
and  its  outlet.  We  continue  on  our  course,  passing  the  Klo- 
man  mine,  and  finally  reach  the  Republic  mine.  The  ores  of 
these  mines  are  mostly  specular.  In  the  Republic  has  been 
found  a  deposit  of  very  pure  magnetite.  The  specular  ores 
are  very  rich  in  iron  oxides  and  are  favorably  known  to  our 
iron  men. 

The  formation  has  here  made  a  horse  shoe-like  bend,  twist- 


144  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

ing  and  contorting  the  strata,  and  returned  in  a  north  westly 
direction  along  the  southwest  bank  of  the  river.  The  strata 
are  tilted  at  high  angles,  and  in  some  instances  are  over- 
turned. The  dip,  however,  is  usually  away  from  the  under- 
lying granite,  so  that  on  each  side  of  the  river  we  find  the 
strata  inclining  toward  each  other,  thereby  forming  a  narrow 
trough  of  less  than  one  mile  wide  and  six  or  seven  miles  long. 
On  this  range  are  located  the  Metropolis,  Windsor,  Canon, 
Erie  and  Magnetic  mines.  These  mines  are  all  on  one  of  the 
lower  iron  belts.  The  Erie  mine  is  reported  to  have  mined 
out  several  hundred  tones  of  magnetic  ore.  At  the  Mag- 
netic mine  has  been  done  considerable  work,  and  they  are 
now  exploring  to  find  the  upper  iron  belt.  Immediately  after 
we  leave  these  mines  the  upturned  edges  of  the  Huronian 
begin  to  curve  to  the  left,  and  in  about  one-half  mile  they 
have  a  direction  of  nearly  due  south,  which  continues  for  three 
or  four  miles,  when  it  makes  a  little  more  easting,  and  finally 
we  come  to  a  point  some  eighteen  miles  south  of  the  Republic 
mine  ;  then  we  proceed  southeasterly  and  easterly  for  about 
thirteen  miles,  when  we  meet  the  Potsdam,  formation  men- 
tioned above,  in  town  42,  range  27  west.  Following  our  pre- 
vious trail  southward  for  five  or  six  miles,  across  this  Huro- 
nian neck,  we  arrive  on  its  southern  edge.  Proceeding  now 
westward  on  the  dividing  line  of  the  Huronian  and  Lauren- 
tian  for  thirteen  or  fourteen  miles,  we  turn  to  the  southwest, 
then  to  the  east  and  north  east  for  a  short  distance,  and  ulti- 
mately in  a  more  uniform  course  to  the  southeast.  We  are 
now  in  the  Menominee  region.  The  formations  are  more 
regular  and  have  a  trend  west  by  north.  On  the  "  Menomi- 
nee range"  are  some  first-class  specular  and  hematite  iron  ore 
deposits,  well  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  t;  Bessemer  pig 
iron,"  and  the  day  cannot  be  far  -distant  when  their  value  for 
this  purpose  will  be  recognized.  The  following  is  an  analysis 
of  ore  from  the  Quiniiesaik  mine: 

Peroxide  of  iron 93.85 

Alumina 34: 

Lime 1.05- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  145 

Magnesia 15 

Phosphoric  acid 11 

Sulphur Trace. 

Silica 4.00 

Water 50 


Total 100.00 

Metallic  iron 65.695 

Phosphorus , 048 

We  have  several  analyses  of  ores  from  this  region,  and  the 
average  percentage  of  phosphorus  is  even  less  than  the  above, 
which  cannot  fail  to  be  appreciated  by  those  endeavoring  to 
furnish  pig  iron  suitable  for  the  present  demand  in  the  steel 
trade. 

Having  in  a  superficial  manner  considered  the  region  best 
known  to  us,  and  in  which  we  are  most  interested,  we  will 
tarry  a  moment  on  the  borders  of  the  geologically  unexplored 
Laurentian.  In  the  Menominee  region  is  a  small  Laurentian 
island,  bounded  on  the  north,  west  and  south  by  the  Hiiro- 
nian,  and  on  the  east  by  the  Silurian.  Immediately  north  of 
this  and  separated  only  by  a  narrow  Huronian  bay  is  a  much 
larger  granite  island  belonging  to  the  same  period,  limited  on 
the  north  by  the  Marquette  iron  district  (Huronian)  and  on 
the  west  and  south  by  Huronian,  and  to  the  east  by  Silurian. 
Still  further  north  is  another  Laurentian  island,  even  larger 
than  the  preceding.  It  is  hemmed  in  on  the  north  and  east 
by  Lake  Superior  and  Potsdam  Sandstone,  to  the  west  by  the 
Huron  Mountains,  and  on  the  south  by  the  Marquette  iron 
region.  The  first  island  has  an  area  of  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  square  miles.  The  second  island  of,  say  six  hundred 
square  miles,  and  the  upper,  or  northern  Laurentian  island, 
probably  numbers  seven  hundred  square  miles.  With  the 
Laurentian  closes  our  very  incomplete  chapter  on  the  geology 
of  the  Lake  Superior  iron  region,  and  we  hand  our  pen  to  the 
historian  that  he  may  finish  the  task  we  have  only  begun. 

On  the  nsxt  two  pages  will  be  found  a  complete  list  of  all 
the  iron  mines  which  have  been  opened  in  the  district,  to- 
gether with  their  location,  names  of  owners,  general  agents 
and  their  post  office  address,  and  character  of  ore 


.146 


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OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


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148  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

CLASSIFICATION   OF   ORES. 

The  Lake  Superior  mines  yield  five  varieties  of  iron  ore. 
The  most  valuable,  so  far  as  developed,  is  the  specular  hema- 
tite, which  is  a  very  pure  anhydrous  sesqui-oxide,  giving  a 
red  powder,  and  yielding  in  the  blast  furnace  from  60  to  68 
per  cent,  of  metallic  iron,  which  is  slightly  red  short.  The 
ore  occurs  both  slaty  and  granular,  or  massive.  It  is 
often  banded  or  interlaminated  with  a  bright  red  quartz  or 
jasper,  and  is  then  called  u  mixed  ore." 

The  next  in  order  of  importance  is  the  magnetic,  or  black 
oxide,  which,  until  recently,  has  only  been  found  at  a  consid- 
erable distance  west  of  the  specular  and  soft  hematite  depos- 
its, at  the  Washington,  Edwards,  Champion,  Republic  group, 
Keystone,  Michigamme  and  Spurr,  in  which  none  of  the  other 
varieties  have  been  found,  except  the  specular  hematite,  com- 
monly called  "slate,"  into  which  the  magnetic  sometimes 
passes,  the  powder  being  from  black  to  purple,  then  red.  Re- 
cently a  vein  of  very  fine  magnetic  ore  was  struck  at  the 
New  York  mine,  which,  though  not  fully  tested,  promises  to 
become  a  very  important  feature  of  the  mine.  It  is  not  im- 
probable that  the  specular  and  magnetic  ores  are  varieties  of 
the  same  ore,  as  they  are  much  alike  in  richness,  character  of 
iron,  and  geological  structure.  This  view  is  much  strength- 
ened by  the  fact  that  the  specular  ore  is  often  found  in  octa- 
hedral crystals,  which  form  is  well  known  to  belong  exclu- 
sively to  the  magnetic  oxide  ;  hence  it  is  probable  that  the 
specular  deposits  were  once  magnetic,  and  by  some  metamor- 
phic  action  have  been  robbed  of  one-ninth  their  oxygen, 
which  would  make  them  chemically  hematites. 

Scarcely  less  important  than  the  magnetic  is  the  soft  hem- 
atite of  the  district,  which  very  much  resembles  the  brown 
hematite  (Limonite)  of  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut.  This 
ore  is  generally  found  associated  with  the  harder  ores,  from 
which  many  suppose  it  is  formed  by  partial  decomposition  or 
disintegration  of  the  latter.  It  contains  some  water,  chemi- 
cally combined — is  porous  in  structure — yields  about  55  per 
cent,  in  the  furnace,  and  is  more  easily  reduced  than  any  other 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  149 

ore  of  the  district.  It  forms  an  excellent  mixture  with  the 
speculars.  There  are,  probably,  several  varieties  of  this  ore 
which  have  not  been  well  made  out.  That  found  at  the  Jack- 
son and  Lake  Superior  is  associated  with  the  specular,  while 
the  Foster  bed  is  several  miles  removed  from  any  known  de- 
posit of  that  ore,  and  has  probably  a  different  origin. 

The  flag  ore  is  a  slaty  or  schistose  silicious  hematite,  con- 
taining rather  less  metallic  iron,  and  of  more  difficult  reduc- 
tion than  either  of  the  varieties  above  named.  It  is  often 
magnetic,  and  sometimes  banded  with  a  dull  red  or  white 
quartz.  The  iron  is  cold  short,  which  is  one  of  the  best  qualities 
of  this  ore — the  other  ores  of  the  district  being  red  short. 
This  ore  varies  much  in  richness,  and  comparatively  little  has 
been  shipped.  It  is,  however,  probably  the  most  abundant 
ore  in  the  district. 

A  silicious  ore,  containing  a  variable  amount  of  oxide  of 
manganese,  is  found  at  several  points,  accompanying  the  flag 
ore,  which  will  in  time,  unquestionably  be  found  of  great 
value  as  a  mixture. 

The  iron  ores  of  the  district  are  generally  found  in  hills, 
rising  from  one  to  five  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sur- 
rounding country.  These  hills  (those  given  to  exaggeration 
call  them  mountains)  are  simply  immense  deposits  of  iron 
ore,  though  partially  or  wholly  covered  by  layers  of  earth  and 
rock.  It  is  true  the  ores  are  also  found  in  the  valleys,  but 
where  so  found  are  usually  covered  with  a  deep  drift,  and  con- 
sequently cannot  be  so  easily  mined. 

That  part  of  the  Lake  Superior  Iron  Region  in  which  the 
most  gratifying  results  have  been  obtained,  is  nearly  all  in- 
cluded within  the  limits  of  Marquette  county,  west  of  Ne- 
gaunee,  within  a  range  of  six  miles  wide,  running  in  a  north- 
westerly course  from  Lake  Fairbanks,  in  town  47  north,  of 
range  26  west,  to  Keweenaw  Bay,  in  town  49  north,  of  range 
33  west — a  distance  of  nearly  one  hundred  miles.  The  mines 
now  opened  and  being  worked  are  all  situated  on  the  east  end 
of  this  range,  the  most  remote  being  the  Spurr  Mountain, 
near  the  west  end  of  Lake  Michigamme. 


150  -MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Another  extensive  district  or  range  is  that  known  as  the 
Menominee,  extending  so  far  as  known,  from  town  39,  north 
range  28  west,  north  to  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Michigamme. 
The  deposits  on  the  south  end  of  this  range,  to  which  more 
extensive  reference  will  be  made  later  on,  are  not  only  quite 
numerous,  "but  are  believed  to  be  very  extensive  and  valuable, 
though  as  yet  little  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  development. 
The  celebrated  Republic  mine  is  situated  on  the  northern  end 
of  this  range.  * 

The  iron  range  again  crops  out  some  thirty  miles  south  of 
Bayfield,  where  ore  of  a  tolerably  pure  quality  has  been  found. 
By  reference  to  a  geological  map,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
Marquette  and  Menominee  iron  ranges  cross  or  form  a  junc- 
tion with  each  other  on  the  south  side  of  Lake  Michigamme, 
the  one  continuing  to  the  west  and  northwest,  and  the  other 
south  and  south-east. 

We  will  now  briefly  review  the  mines  in  present  operation,, 
giving  such  facts  and  figures  as  will  enable  the  reader  to  com- 
prehend the  progress  which  has  been  made,  and  form  some 
estimate  of  the  importance  of  the  iron  resources  of  the  Lake 
Superior  region.  As  we  have  stated,  the  first  opening  in  the 
iron  deposits  was  made  at 

THE   JACKSON  MI^"E 

in  1846;  but  very  little  progress  was  made  in  the  way  of  de- 
velopment until  after  the  opening  of  the  St.  Mary's  Falls7 
ship  canal,  ten  years  subsequent.  The  first  shipments  from 
the  Jackson  were  made  in  1856,  all  the  ore  mined  previous  to 
that  time  (about  25,000  tons)  having  been  for  the  use  of  the 
Company's  forge,  of  which  full  mention  has  already  been 
made. 

The  Jackson  Company's  mines  are  situated  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  the  city  of  Negaunee,  on  section  1,  of  town 
47,  range  27,  the  whole  of  the  section  belonging  to  the  com- 
pany, and  comprising  the  original  entry  made  in  1845.  The 
mines  consist  of  a  dozen  or  more  cuts  or  openings,  on  as 
many  different  deposits  of  ore,  though  it  is  believed  that 
some  of  them  are  continuous.  The  ore  is  a  hematite-^ 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  151 

including  both  the  hard  and  soft  varieties — classified  into 
specular,  granular,  slate  and  hematite — the  latter  referring 
solely  to  the  soft  ores.  The  beds  are  very  irregular  in  their 
formation,  but,  generally,  have  a  very  perceptible  dip  to  the 
north. 

The  production  of  the  Jackson  mine,  for  each  year,  is  cor- 
rectly given  in  the  following  table: 

YEAR.  GEO3S  TONS. 

]  856,  and  previous 30,000 

1857 14,000 

1858 12,500 

1859 10,500 

1860 41,000 

1861 13,000 

1862 43,000 

1863 61,000 

1864 69,000 

1865 55,000 

1866 87,934 

1867 126,390 

1868 131,707 

1869 128,245 

1870 122,710 

1871 132,297 

1872 112,060 

1873 116,336 

1874 105,600 

1875 90,568 

Total 1,502,847 

The  following  analyses  of  the  Jackson  ore  is  given  to  show 
its  great  purity,  and  freedom  from  all  injurious  substances : 

NUMBER  ONE — A  MIXTURE   OP   THE   GRANULAR   PEROXYDE  AND 
THE  MAGNETIC   OXYDE  : 

Oxygen 29.46 

Iron 68 . 07 

Insoluble 2 . 89 


100.42 

No  trace  of  manganese,  phosphorus  or  sulphur,   the   in- 
soluble portion  consisting  entirely  of  pure  silicia. 

NUMBER   TWO — SLATE. 

Oxygen 29 . 09 

Iron 69.09 

Insoluble 1 . 64 


99.82 


152  'MINERAL  RESOURCES 

We  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  enter  into  a  detailed  de- 
scription of  the  Jackson.  It  is,  perhaps,  more  generally 
known  abroad  than  any  other  mine  in  the  district,  its  ores 
always  commanding  the  most  favorable  consideration  of 
furnace-men.  Mining  operations  are  conducted  in  the  most 
thoroughly  systematic  manner,  and  though  economy  is  the 
rule,  no  necessary  expense  has  been  spared  in  the  purchase  of 
the  best  and  most  improved  machinery  and  appliances.  The 
mine  affords  employment  to  an  average  of  about  250  men, 
and  the  pay  roll  will  approximate  $125,000  annualty,  though, 
of  course,  it  was  much  larger  previous  to  the  panic. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are  as  follows:  President, 
DAVID  STEWART,  New  York;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Gr.  P. 
LLOYD,  New  York;  General  Agent.  FAYETTE  BROWN,  Cleve- 
land; Local  Agent  and  Mining  Supt.,  HENRY  MERRY, 
Negaunee. 

Captain  Merry  took  charge  of  mining  operations  in  1858, 
and  has  held  the  position  ever  since.  His  long  service  with 
the  company,  and  the  constantly  increasing  product  of  the 
mine,  attest  his  practical  worth  and  ability. 

THE  CLEVELAND  IRON  MINING  COMPANY 

mined  the  first  year  (1852)  3,000  tons,  which  was  made 
into  blooms,  at  their  forge,  in  Marquette,  which  continued 
in  operation  about  two  years  after  its  purchase  from  the 
Marquette  Company.  This  forge  stood  just  south  of  the 
shore  end  of  the  Cleveland  Cornpairj^s  ore  pier,  and  was 
destroyed  by  fire  December  15th,  1853.  In  1855,  the 
first  shipments,  1,447  tons,  were  made  to  lower  lake  ports, 
and  in  1856  the  shipments  amounted  to  6,343  tons.  The 
Jackson,  though  first  wrought,  did  not  make  any  shipments 
of  ore  till  1856,  and  the  Cleveland,  therefore,  ranks  as  the 
pioneer  in  that  respect.  The  following  table  shows  the 
product  of  the  mine  from  1852  to  1875,  inclusive,  a  period 
of  twenty-four  years: 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  153 

TEAK  GROSS  TONS. 

1852-4 3,000 

1855 1,447 

1856 6,343 

1857 , 13,204 

1858 7,909 

1859 15,787 

1860 40,091 

1861 11,795 

1862    , 37,009 

1863 46,842 

1864 45,927 

1865 : 33,957 

1866 42,125 

1867 75,864 

1868 102,213 

1869 , 111,897 

1870 132,984 

1871 158,047 

1872 151,585 

1873 130,600 

1874 108,580 

1875 140,239 


Total 1,417,445 

The  present  operations  at  the  mine  are  confined  to  pits 
No.  2  and  3 — originally  separate  openings,  but  now  one — 
Nos.  1,  4  and  5,  the  "  Incline  "  and  the  School-house  mines, 
the  exact  condition  of  each  of  which  we  shall  describe  as 
accurately  as  possible.  In  No.  2  and  3,  which  is,  in  the 
main,  a  large  open  cut,  the  90  foot  level  has  been  reached, 
with  the  hoisting  shaft  sunk  to  a  considerable  depth  below  it. 
To  the  west  of  this  open  cut  there  are  openings  througl 
to  the  New  York,  where  the  vein  has  been  worked  out  to 
below  the  60  foot  level,  pillars  of  ore  being  left  to  support 
the  hanging  wall.  At  this  point  the  vein,  which  was  only 
about  eight  feet  thick  at  the  outcrop,  widened  out  to  15C 
feet,  at  the  60  foot  level,  but  at  some  distance  below,  tapers 
down  to  about  90  feet.  The  dip  of  the  deposit  is,  at  this 
point,  to  the  south,  the  foot  wall  being  nearly  perpendicular. 
The  New  York  vein,  which  is  identical  with  this  deposit, 
lias  been  worked  down  to  the  Cleveland  line  for  a  distance 
of  230  feet  west,  thus  insuring,  without  further  explora- 
tion, a  run  of  over  400  feet  of  ore  at  this  point.  There  is 
here  a  vast  body  of  pure  ore  which  cannot  be  exhausted  for 


154  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

many  years.  The  ore  is  raised  through  a  shaft  supplied  with 
a  double  skip  road,  operated  by  the  engine  and  drums  in  the 
main  engine  house,  situated  between  No.  2  and  3  and  the 
Incline  mine.  The  same  engine  was  formerly  used  for  hoist- 
ing from  the  Incline  mine,  but  is  now  employed  exclusively 
in  raising  the  ore  and  water  from  No.  2  and  3. 

No.  4  is  situated  about  400  feet  east  of  the  last  men- 
tioned opening.  The  vein,  which  was  about  14  feet  thick  at 
the  start,  dips  to  the  west  at  about  the  same  angle  as  the 
deposit  in  2  and  3,  and  at  a  depth  of  125  feet  attains,  in  some 
places,  a  thickness  of  45  feet.  Here  it  has  been  ascertained 
that  what  was  considered  the  foot  wall  is  only  a  thin  strata 
of  rock,  under  which  there  is  another  bed  of  ore,  the  extenb 
of  which  has  not  yet  been  determined;  the  same  feature 
characterizes  the  hanging,  above  which  there  is  another 
vein  of  ore  ten  feet  thick.  These  veins  evidently  run  under 
the  east  slope  of  No.  2  and  3,  and  cut  out  what  was  supposed 
to  be  a  right  angle  or  curve  in  the  foot  wall.  This  is  an  un- 
derground opening,  and  connected  by  a  drift  with  the  In- 
cline mine.  The  ore  is  hoisted  out  by  engine  and  drums, 
stationed  on  the  hill  at  the  east  of  the  mine,  which  also  do 
the  hoisting  for  Nos.  1  and  5. 

No.  5  is  an  open  cut  in  which  the  vein  has  been  opened 
about  150  feet  lengthwise,  the  vein  holding  a  uniform  thick- 
ness of  about  20  feet,  120  feet  below  the  surface,  to  which 
depth  the  ore  has  been  worked  out. 

No.  1  is  where  the  first  opening  was  made  in  1854.  and 
presents  a  vein  of  ore  about  14  feet  thick,  dipping  to  the 
south-west,  and  which  has  been  worked  down  to  a  uniform 
depth  of  30  feet.  This  vein  has  been  traced  to  the  New  York 
line,  a  distance  of  over  400  feet,  and  lies  immediately  under 
the  deposit  in  No.  2  and  3,  with  about  ten  feet  of  diorite 
between  them. 

By  far  the  largest  body  of  ore  to  be  seen  in  any  one  opening 
in  the  district,  is  at  the  so-called  u  Incline  mine."  This  is  a 
large  open  cut,  100  feet  deep,  and  embracing  a  superficial 
area  200x400  feet.  The  length  indicates  the  extent  of  vein 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  155 

oi  deposit  which  has  been  opened,  though  it  varies  in  width 
or  thickness  from  13  feet  at   the  east  end  to   162  feet  near 
the  middle,  tapering  down   again   to   about   30  feet  at  the 
west  end.     This   deposit   presents   some  peculiarities  which 
are  puzzling  to  the  geologist.     Originally,  an  inclined  tram- 
road  was  put  down,  from  the  engine-house,  at  the  north- 
west end  of  the  opening,  under  the  impression  that  the  ore 
dipped  to  the  south  and  east.     Afterwards  it  was  found  that 
the  ore  dipped  under  the  supposed  foot  wall  on  the  north  side 
of  the  pit;  the  incline  was  taken  up,  and  three  skip  roads  on 
the  south  wall  substituted  for  hoisting  purposes.     The  south 
wall  is  nearly  perpendicular,  and  when  the  ore  was  found 
to  be  dipping  to  the  north,  it  was  but  natural  to  suppose  that 
a  correct  understanding  of  the  formation  had  been  reached. 
Later,  however,   it  was  found  that  the  ore,  75  feet   below 
the  surface,  extends  under  this  supposed  foot  wall  on  the 
south  side,  and  excavations  for  blacksmith  shop  and  boiler 
room  have  been  made,  20  feet  south,  in  ore,  without  encoun- 
tering anything  which  looks  like   a  foot  or  hanging   wall. 
Certain  it  is  that  the  ore  in  the  bottom  dips  under  the  op- 
posing bodies  of  rock,  and,  as  yet,  neither  foot  nor  hanging 
wall  has  been  reached.     Above  this  huge  ore  deposit  there 
is   a   vein    fourteen  feet  thick,  dipping  at  an   angle   of  45 
degrees  to  the  north,  which  has  been  worked  to  some  extent 
by  driving  in  "breasts,"  leaving  arches  to  support  the  over 
hanging  rock.     This  vein,  however,  has  not  been  found  very 
reliable,  in  some  places  narrowing  down  to  less  than  three 
feet.     Some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  u  Incline  mine  "  may 
be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  nearly  70,000  tons  of  ore  have 
been  mined  from  it  alone  in  a  single  year,  and  that  it   can 
be  made  to  yield  a  larger  product  if  necessary.     An  open 
cut,  thirty  feet  deep,  is  now  being  made  across  the  bottom, 
at  the  widest  part,  by  which  two  underhand  stopes  with  faces 
30x160  feet  will  be  obtained,  on  each  side.    From  these  stopes 
not  less  than  100,000  tons  of  ore  can  be  mined.     The  ore  is 
raised  by  means  of  four  skip  roads,  three  on  the  south  side 
of  the  cut  and  one  at  the  northwest  side,  all  operated  by  the 


156  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

new  machinery  furnished  last  year  by  the  Iron  Bay  foundry, 
and  which  is  located  at  the  southwest  end  of  the  cut. 

The  School-house  mine  is  west  and  south  of  the  other 
openings,  and  has  been  opened  on  a  vein  which  has  a  north 
and  south  course,  with  dip  to  the  west.  About  350  feet  of 
vein,  which  carries  an  average  thickness  of  fourteen  feet,  has 
been  opened  to  a  depth  of  130  feet.  It  is  an  underground 
mine,  with  four  incline  shafts,  which  are  supplied  with  skips 
for  hoisting.  These  skips  are  operated  by  machinery  of  the 
most  approved  pattern,  and  which,  owing  to  its  distance  from 
other  openings,  is  not  applied  to  any  other  purpose.  This 
mine  contributes  about  30,000  tons  of  ore  annually  to  the 
company's  product. 

The  average  number  of  men  employed  at  the  Cleveland  is 
350.  The  ore  generally,  is  a  very  hard,  compact  red  specular, 
and  for  that  reason  the  cost  of  mining  is,  perhaps,  greater 
than  at  any  other  mine  in  the  district.  In  No.  2  and  3  pit 
there  is  ground  so  exceedingly  hard  that  frequently  from  five 
to  six  hundred  freshly  sharpened  drills  are  required  to  drill  an 
inch  and  a  half  hole  one  foot  deep.  The  ore,  however,  is  of 
the  best  quality,  a  fact  which  is  attested  by  the  eagerness 
with  which  it  is  sought  after  by  furnacemen  all  over  the 
country.  More  than  this,  the  deposits  are  not  likely  to  show 
any  signs  of  exhaustion  for  years  to  come — certainly  not 
within  the  remaining  years  of  any  of  the  present  stock- 
holders. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are:  President  and  Treasurer, 
SAMUEL  L.  MATHER;  Secretary,  FEED.  A.  MORSE;  General 
Agent,  JAY  C.  MORSE;  Superintendent,  F.  P.  MILLS. 

Mr.  Mills  has  had  local  charge  during  the  past  sixteen 
years — a  fact  which  tells  the  whole  story  of  his  ability  as  a 
practical  miner. 

THE   LAKE    SUPERIOR   HIXE. 

The  Lake  Superior  Iron  company  filed  its  articles  of  associ- 
ation in  March  1853,  the  capital  stock  being  1300,000,  repre- 
sented by  12,000  shares  of  the  par  value  of  $25  each.  Mining 
operations  were  not  commenced,  however, until  sometime  in  the 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  157 

summer  of  1857,  and  the  first  shipments  (4,658  tons)  were  made 
the  following  year.  The  estate  originally  purchased  consisted 
of  120  acres  in  sections  9  and  10,  town  47,  range  27.  Subse- 
quent purchases  enlarged  the  company's  estate  to  something 
over  2,000  acres,  and  it  now  has  mines  opened  and  in  opera- 
tion in  sections  16,  19,  20  and  21,  in  addition  to  those  opened 
on  the  tract  originally  purchased.  With  the  purchase  of 
additional  lands  the  capital  stock  was  increased  to  $500,000, 
all  of  which  was  returned  to  the  stockholders  in  dividends 
previous  to  the  panic  of  1873,  up  to  the  close  of  which  year  the 
company  had  mined  and  sold  1,433,097  tons  of  ore,  of  the 
aggregate  value  of  about  ten  millions  of  dollars. 

We  shall  not  attempt  any  description  of  the  geological 
formation  at  the  Lake  Superior  openings  in  sections  9  and  10, 
the  peculiarities  of  which  are  a  puzzle  to  those  who  have  made 
the  geology  of  the  district   a  study.     Major  Brooks,  who 
made  a  most  thorough  and  careful  examination  of  the  mine 
while  engaged  in  the  state  geological  survey  of  1869,  referring 
to  the  eastern  portion  of  the  mine,  says  in  his  report  "  I  con- 
fess myself  unable  to  give  any  intelligent  hypothesis  of  its 
structure."     Were  he  to  visit  the  mine  now,  we  very  much 
fear  that  he  would  find  it  a  harder  conundrum  to  solve  than 
it  was  at  the  time  he  made  his  survey.     The  formation  is  un- 
like anything  else  in  the  district.     Instead  of  a  comparatively 
narrow  vein  or  belt  of  ore,  enclosed  by  nearly  vertical  walls, 
we  find  here  a  huge  basin  or  trough,  the  rims  of  which  form 
a  foot  wall  on  either  side,  from  400  to  500  feet  apart  at  the 
upper  edges.      There  are,  in  fact,  two  foot  walls  of  talcose 
schist,  one  dipping  to  the  north  at  an  angle  of  69  deg.,  and 
the  other  sloping  at  the  same  angle  to  the  south,  while  there 
is  no  such  thing  as  a  hanging  wall  to  be  seen.     Along  the 
sloping  walls  of  this  basin  there  is  a  vein  or  stratification  of 
pure  ore — that  lying  next  to  the  south  wall  varying  from 
twenty  to  ninety  feet  in  width,  and  gradually  widening  out 
as  depth  is  attained.     Along  the  north  wall,  in  No.  2  cut,  a 
vein  of  pure  ore  ten  or  twelve  feet  thick  was  mined  out  down 
to  the  first  level,  one  hundred  feet  from  the  surface,  at  which 


158  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

point  there  appears  to  have  been  a  break  in  the  formation,  by 
which  the  ore  belt  was  shoved  over  to  the  south  a  few  feet,  as 
is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  though  the  miners  lost  track  of 
the  ore  at  the  bottom  of  the  level  as  stated,  it  has  again  been 
found  in  a  lower  drift,  and  running  parallel  with  the  vein 
which  was  supposed  to  have  been  exhausted.  The  same  break 
occurs  at  the  Barnum,  a  short  distance  west,  where  the  vein 
was  lost  and  found  again  in  the  same  way,  and  has  been 
worked  out  to  a  considerable  depth  below  the  break.  Between 
these  foot  walls  and  the  overlying  veins  or  stratifications  of 
pure  ore,  the  basin  appears  to  have  been  filled  in  with  a 
jumbled  mass  of  rock  and  ore — a  chloritic  schist  with  strati- 
fications of  pure  specular  ore,  which  appear  to  have  no  con- 
nection with  the  main  deposits  on  either  side.  There  is  but 
one  acceptable  theory  in  regard  to  this  formation,  and  that  is 
that  the  vein  or  deposit  lying  against  the  north  and  south 
foot  walls  are  identical  and  connect  underground — though 
some  affect  the  belief  that  the  formation  will  be  found  differ- 
ent at  a  greater  depth,  and  that  the  ore  overlying  the  north 
and  south  walls  are  but  branches  of  or  feeders  to  the  main 
deposit,  which  will  be  found  confined  within  regular  foot  and 
hanging  walls  below,  the  smaller  lenticular  masses  in  the 
chloritic  schist,  with  which  the  bowl  of  the  trough  or  basin 
is  filled,  having  the  same  structural  connection.  There  is 
little  doubt,  at  all  events,  but  that  the  ore  will  be  found  to 
connect  beneath  the  mass  of  rock  lying  between  the  upturned 
edges  of  the  basin,  cutting  it  out  altogether.  This  rock  will, 
therefore,  necessarily  have  to  be  taken  down  and  removed; 
and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  it  will  be  found  to  contain 
enough  pure  ore  to  pay  the  cost  of  its  removal. 

The  principal  work  being  done  at  present  is  in  Nos.  1  and 
2.  No.  1  is  a  large  open  cut  which  has  been  worked  out  to 
a  depth  of  105  feet,  the  floor  constituting  what  is  known  as 
the  first  level.  This  cut  is  about  400  feet  in  length,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  basin,  the  ore  widening  out  from  about 
twenty  feet  at  the  east  end  to  ninety  feet  near  the  middle, 
from  which  point  it  again  gradually  narrows  down  to  forty 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  159 

feet  at  the  west  end.  This  refers  to  the  body  of  ore  which 
constitutes  the  floor  of  the  first  level,  the  deposit  at  the 
west  end  being  only  one  foot  thick  at  the  outcrop,  and 
though  not  fully  informed  we  infer  that  the  same  general 
features  characterize  the  whole  of  the  deposit  so  far  as 
opened.  It  would  appear  that  the  belt  of  the  ore  lying 
along  the  southern  foot  wall  does  not  maintain  the  same 
proportions,  but  dips  under  the  mass  of  rock  with  which  the 
basin  is  filled,  so  that  at  a  depth  of  100  feet  from  the  surface 
it  has  attained  a  thickness  nearly,  if  not  quite,  three  times 
as  great  as  the  measurement  of  the  outcrop.  This  fact 
strengthens  the  belief  that  the  ore  will  ultimately  be  found 
to  underlie  the  whole  of  the  mixed  ore  and  rock  between 'the 
upturned  edges,  and  should  the  same  general  features  be 
found  in  the  ore  belt  which  lines  the  slope  of  the  north  wall 
in  No.  2,  it  will  not  be  many  years  before  the  peculiarities  of 
the  formation,  which  have  puzzled  the  wits  of  the  ablest 
geologists,  will  be  satisfactorily  determined. 

The  ore  from  No.  1  cut   is   raised   through   a  main   shaft, 
which  is  down  to  the  second  level  all  the   way   in  rock,   ajid 
125  feet  distant  from  the  ore  deposit.     From   the  bottom   of 
this  shaft  there  are  two   drifts   into   the  cut   on  the   second 
level,  in  which  there  are  four  stopes  with  faces   of  sixty   feet 
each.     A  shaft  has  been  sunk  to  the  third  level,  at   the   east 
end  of  v>.c  cut,  around  which  the  ore  has  been  taken   out  so 
as  to  give  an  open  under-hand  stope   of  forty-eight  feet.     A 
new  skip  road  is  being  constructed  to  this  third  level,  the  ore 
from  which  has  hitherto  been  raised  in  buckets  to  the  second 
level,  and  thence  out  through  the  main  shaft.  This  new  skip 
road  will  be  operated  by  one  of  the  drums  in  No.  1   engine 
house,  it  being  the  intention  to  abandon  the  old  shaft  as  soon 
as  all  the  ore  above  the  second  level  has  been  taken  out.   The 
distance  from  surface  to  the  third  level  is  232  feet.     The 
new  shaft  referred  to,  together  with  the  skip   road,   will  be 
continued  down   to  a  fourth  level,   sixty    feet    below    the 
third,  which  will  give  a  sufficient  number  of  stopes  to  enable 
the  management  to  fill  any  demand  that  is  likely  to  be  made 
upon  the  mine. 


160  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

On  the  south  side  of  J3o.  1  cut  there  are  two  skip  roads  to 
the  second  level,  which  are  operated  by  the  engine  and  drums 
on  the  hill.  These  will  likewise  be  carried  down  to  the  third 
and  fourth  levels,  and  the  ore  taken  out  in  that  direction 
will  pass  down  a  tram-road  to  a  dock  near  the  hematite  mine, 
where  it  will  be  transferred  into  the  railway  cars. 

In  No.  2  cut,  which  is  along  the  north  slope  of  the  basin 
north  and  west  of  No.  1,  there  are  three  skip  roads  down  to 
the  first  level,  all  operated  by  the  engine  and  drums  in  No.  1 
engine  house.  One  of  these  skips  will  be  transferred  to  No. 
1,  and  the  others  continued  down  to  the  third  and  fourth 
levels. 

In  tne  west  end  of  No.  1  a  drift  has  been  made  fifteen 
feet  into  the  vein,  about  thirty  feet  below  the  surface,  from 
the  end  of  which  a  winze  is  being  sunk  to  the  second  level, 
leaving  the  whole  body  of  ore  between  the  winze  and  open 
cut  to  support  the  walls.  At  the  bottom  of  this  winze  a 
drift  will  connect  with  the  open  cut,  through  which  the  ore 
will  be  trammed  to  the  skip  road  on  the  south  side.  West  of 
this  some  500  feet  is  another  opening  not  now  being  worked, 
where  the  vein  is  found  to  be  ten  feet  in  width,  and  still 
further  west,  500  feet,  a  shaft  has  been  sunk  twenty-two  feet, 
all  the  way  in  ore.  The  shaft,  which  follows  the  foot  wall,  is 
10x12,  but  as  yet  no  hanging  wall  lias  been  found,  and  con- 
sequently the  width  of  the  vein  at  this  point  is  unde- 
termined. 

Our  observations  thus  far  have  been  confined  to  the  hard 
ore  deposits  on  sections  9  and  10— now  we  come  to  the  hema- 
tite mine,  which  is  situated  a  short  distance  southeast  of  No, 
1  cut,  an  opening  known  as  the  "Trebilcock  pit"  lying  be- 
tween. The  latter  is  a  large  open  cut  fifty  feet  square, 
worked  out  to  a  depth  of  100  feet  or  more,  The  walls  are  of 
mixed  hard  ore,  and  almost  perpendicular.  Were  it  not  for 
a  vein  some  eighteen  or  twenty  feet  in  width  which  extends 
easterly  from  this  cut  and  appears  to  be  a  part  of  the  same 
deposit,  there  would  be  strong  reason  to  regard  this  as  merely 
a  pocket  of  hematite  ore,  having  no  connection  with  other 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  161 

parts   of  the  mine;  it  is  probable,  however,  that  it  is   a   part 
of  and  connected  with  the  main  hematite  deposit   which  lies 
to  the  south  and  east.     The  hematite  mine  is  almost,  if  not 
quite,  as  great  a  puzzle  as   the   formation  in   Nos.  1  and  2. 
There  is  here  a  very  large  body  of  the  best  soft  hematite,  inta 
which  a  shaft  has  been  sunk  230  feet  to  the  second  level.  There 
is,  perhaps,  nothing  in  the  formation  which  cannot  easily   be 
understood;  but  how  to  successfully  work  so  large  a  deposit 
is  a  more  perplexing  conundrum  than  the   geological  pecu- 
liarities in  Nos.  1  and  2.     Some   idea   of  the  extent   of  this 
deposit  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  36,000  tons  were 
raised  last  year.     The  great  breadth  of  ore  between  the  walls 
— from  eighty   to  "one  hundred    feet — renders   underground 
work  on  the  plan  or   system  usually   employed  in  hard   ore 
mines  next  to  impossible.     For  this  reason  but  a  small   pro- 
portion of  the  deposit  has  thus  far  been  mined,  and  the  as  yet 
unsolved  problem,  is  how  to  obtain  with  safety   the   greatest 
amount  of  ore  at  the  least  cost.     So    far,    operations   have 
been  confined  to  the  sinking  of  a  main  shaft,  as  before  stated, 
to  a  depth  of  230  feet,  from  the  bottom   of  which,  on  each 
level,  drifts  have  been  run  in  various  directions,   and   several 
large  chambers  excavated  in   different   parts   of  the  deposit, 
generally  on  the  side  next  to  the  foot   wall.     One   of  these 
drifts  extends  from  the  bottom  of  the  shaft  on  the  first  level, 
southeasterly  to  the  foot  wall,  and  from  thence   northerly   to 
a  point  50  feet  below  the  present  level  of  the  Trebilcock  pit. 
The  first  half  of  this  drift  has  been  partially   filled   up  by  a. 
fall  of  rock,  and  another  is  now  being  driven  from  the  main 
shaft  in  a  westerly  direction,  and  will  intersect  it  at   a  point 
about  half  way  between  the  foot  wall   and  its  northern  ter- 
minus.    The  intention  is  to  then  sink  a  shaft  in   the   Trebil- 
cock pit  to  connect  with  this  drift,  and  thus  open  a  new  out- 
let for  the  ore  mined  in  that  cut,  and  also   facilitate  mining 
operations  by  opening  an  underhand  stope  with  a  face  of  fifty 
feet.     The  two  cuts  will   thus  be  connected    and  thereafter 
constitute   one  mine.      There   are  similar  drifts   and    lofty 
chambers,  from  which  last  the  ore  has  been   worked   out   as- 


162  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

far  as  it  could  be  done  with  safety,  on  the  lower  level.  The 
shaft,  which  was  supposed  to  be  on  the  hanging  wall  side  of 
the  deposit,  (and  is,  should  there  be  such  a  thing  as  a  hanging 
wall),  is  down  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  foot  wall,  and  cannot 
be  carried  down  to  another  level  in  ore.  Sooner  or  later  a 
new  shaft,  one  or  two  hundred  feet  in  the  rear  of  the  present 
one,  will  have  to  be  sunk  through  the  rock  so  as  to  strike  the 
ore  at  a  lower  level.  This  will  be  necessary  to  the  carrying 
out  of  the  only  feasible  plan  upon  which  the  mine  can  be 
worked — which  is  to  sink  to  the  lowest  level  ever  intended  to 
be  reached,  and  then  excavate  chambers  of  a  certain  width, 
leaving  alternate  bodies  of  ore  to  support  the  roof  and  walls, 
and  as  fast  as  these  chambers  are  mined  out  filling  them  up 
with  rock  and  waste  material.  In  this  way  it  is  believed  at 
least  nine-tenths  of  the  ore  can  be  taken  out;  and  such  is 
the  plan  which  must  ultimately  be  adopted.  There  is  in  this 
hematite  mine  an  immense  body  of  ore,  and  it  will  be  many 
years  before  it  will  be  exhausted  by  the  most  thorough  and 
practical  system  of  mining  which  can  be  brought  into  prac- 
tice. Although  drifts  have  been  made  across  the  formation 
eighty  feet  from  the  foot  wall  towards  the  hanging,  the 
latter  has  not  yet  been  encountered,  and  the  real  extent  of 
this  most  remarkable  deposit  is.  therefore,  not  yet  fully 
determined. 

Capt.  John  Oliver,  one  of  the  most  experienced  miners  in 
the  district,  is  foreman  in  the  hematite  mine,  which  position 
he  has  held  for  the  past  seven  years. 

The  company's  mine  on  section  16,  known  as  the  "  Par- 
sous,11  has  not  been  worked  the  past  two  or  three  years, 
though  a  deposit  of  good  ore  has  been  developed.  On  section 
21,  the  company  has  a  hematite  mine,  which,  however,  has 
never  been  worked  extensively,  though  the  ore  is  of  good 
quality,  and  the  mine  one  that  could  be  made  very  productive. 
Near  by  is  the  old  New  England  mine,  now  the  property  of 
the  Lake  Superior  company,  and  from  which  over  100,000 
tons  of  ore  have  been  mined.  These  two  openings  are 
divided  only  by  the  section  line  between  20  and  21,  and  when 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  163 

operations  are  resumed  will  doubtless  constitute  one  mine. 
In  the  hill  just  north  a  shaft  is  now  going  down  in  a  narrow 
vein  of  very  fine  slate  ore.  This  is  doubtless  a  part  of  the 
Saginaw  range,  which  has  been  traced  across  the  whole  of 
sections  19,  20  and  21. 

On  section  19  the  company  has  another  mining  location, 
upon  which  considerable  work  has  been  done,  and  which  is 
familiarly  known  at  Ishpeming  as  the  "  New  Burt."  The 
location  adjoins  the  Saginaw,  which  lies  to  the  west  of  it, 
and  is  a  continuation  of  the  same  range.  Here  is  found  a 
belt  of  hard  granular  and  slate  ore,  in  which  several  open- 
ings have  been  made,  but  only  three  of  which  are  at  present 
being  worked.  These  cuts  are  numbered  respectively  1,  2 
and  3,  commencing  at  the  Saginaw  line.  No.  1,  is  a  large 
open  cut,  worked  out  to  a  depth  of  100  feet,  the  width  being, 
perhaps,  seventy  feet.  It  is  supplied  with  a  skip  road  oper- 
ated by  steam  power.  There  appears  to  be  a  body  of  pure 
ore  about  55  feet  in  thickness  at  the  bottom,  and  lying  next 
to  the  hanging  wall.  The  formation  is  somewhat  peculiar, 
there  being  no  well  defined  foot  wall;  lying  under  the  belt  of 
pure  ore  is  a  body  of  mixed  ore,  25  feet  thick,  and  under  that 
an  extensive  deposit  of  soft  hematite  of  inferior  quality. 
This  peculiar  formation  is  noticeable  wherever  the  ore  belt 
has  been  opened  on  the  section.  Nos.  2  and  3,  have  also 
been  worked  out  to  a  depth  of  100  feet;  these  two  pits  will 
lie  connected  by  the  sinking  of  a  winze  in  No.  3,  and  a  drift 
from  thence  to  the  hoisting  shaft  in  No.  2.  In  No.  1,  the 
shaft  will  be  carried  down  fifty  feet  during  the  winter,  and 
connected  with  a  winze  in  the  west  end.  A  winze  will  also 
be  put  down  in  No.  2,  and  connected  with  the  main  shaft. 
These  winzes  will  give  several  underhand  stopes,  and  greatly 
facilitate  the  taking  out  of  the  ore.  The  ore  is  raised  from 
Nos.  1  and  2,  en  skip  roads  operated  by  engine  and  drums 
manufactured  by  S.  F.  Hodge,  of  Detroit.  Two  steam  drills, 
of  the  Wood  and  Waring  patents,  are  to  be  employed,  and  it 
is  believed  they  will  not  only  facilitate  operations  but  very 
materially  curtail  the  cost  of  mining. 


164  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

East  of  No.  3,  several  openings  have  been  made  in  about 
the  same  quality  of  ore,  one  of  which  is  very  promising. 
They  are  not  now  being  worked,  but  can  at  any  time  be  made 
to  add  largely  to  the  product  of  the  mine. 

There  was  mined  and  shipped  at  the  u  New  Burt,"  in  1875, 
about  12,000  tons  of  first-class  ore,  and  if  necessary,  the  pro- 
duct can  be  doubled  this  year.  Capt.  P.  T.  Tracy,  one  of  the 
pioneer  miners  of  the  copper  district,  and  who  has  likewise 
had  much  experience  in  iron  mining,  is  the  local  super- 
intendent. 

We  append  herewith  a  statement  of  the  total  product  of 
the  Lake  Superior  mine  during  the  eighteen  years  past: 

TEAK.  GROSS    TONP. 

1858 4,658 

1859 24,668 

1860    33,015 

1861 25,195 

1862 37,709 

1863 78,976 

1864 86,773 

1865 50,201 

1866 68,002 

1867 119,935 

1868 105,745 

1869 131,343 

1870 166,582 

1871 158,047 

1872 185.070 

1873 158,078 

1874 114,074 

1875 129,339 


Total 1,677,410 

The  company  gives  employment  to  about  300  men. 
The  following  are  the  officers  of  the  company: 
President,  JOSEPH  S.  FAY;    Treasurer,  RICHARD  S.  FAY; 
Secretary,  A.  C.  TEHKEY. 

Hon.  S.  P.  Ely,  who  had  filled  the  position  of  general 
agent  from  the  inception  of  the  company,  resigned  in  1874, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Chas.  H.  Hall,  Esq.,  the  present  effi- 
cient general  manager.  Mr.  Hall  is  ably  assisted  by  Jeff. 
D.  Day,  Esq.,  who  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  company  for 
a  number  of  years.  Capt.  G.  D.  Johnson,  whose  name  was  at 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  165 

one  time  inseparable  from  that  of  the  Lake  Superior  mine, 
resigned  last  fall,  after  eighteen  years  of  continuous  service  as 
superintendent.  He  is  now  engaged  in  silver  mining,  in  the 
Tintic  district,  Utah. 

THE   NEW  YORK  MINE 

is  located  in  Section  3,  Town  47,  Range  27 — a  leasehold  of 
fort}r  acres,  adjoining  the  Cleveland  on  the  north.  The  fee  is 
owned  by  A.  R.  Harlow,  Esq.,  of  Marquette,  from  whom  it 
was  leased  for  a  term  of  years  by  a  corporation  styled  the 
New  York  Iron  Mining  Company,  organized  in  1865,  with 
Samuel  J.  Tilden,  J.  P.  Sinnett  and  J.  Rankin,  of  New  York, 
as  corporators.  This  company  is  a  consolidation  of  the 
New  York  and  Boston  Iron  Mining  Company,  and  the  New 
York  Iron  Mine,  incorporated  March  31st,  1865.  The  stock 
is  now  all  held  by  S.  J.  Tilden  and  W.  L.  Wetmore. 

Mining  operations  were  commenced  in  1864,  in  which  year 
8,000  tons  were  mined  and  sold  to  other  companies. 

At  one  time  there  appeared  to  be  two  well  defined  veins 
crossing  the  tract  diagonally,  lying  one  above  the  other,  and 
separated  from  each  other  by  a  thin  wall  of  rock.  More  re- 
cent developments,  however,  show  that  these  veins  run  to- 
gether at  a  lower  depth,  or  else  that  the  lower  one  pinches  out 
altogether.  This  lower  vein  has  been  worked  to  some  extent 
on  the  east  half  of  the  tract,  but  at  one  or  two  points  has 
been  exhausted,  and  the  cuts  made  in  taking  out  the  ore  have 
been  partially  filled  up  with  waste  rock  from  the  upper  vein. 
There  is  still,  however,  a  good  face  of  ore  in  the  east  end  of 
this  lower  vein,  and  it  is  being  worked  to  good  advantage. 

The  upper  vein  referred  to  above,  is  the  one  from  which  the 
bulk  of  the  product  for  the  past  ten  years  has  been  mined. 
This  has  been  opened  an  entire  length  of  about  800  feet. 
The  dip  of  the  vein  is  to  the  south  at  an  angle  of  about  38° 
from  the  perpendicular,  and  it  has  been  worked  out  for  most 
of  the  distance  to  an  average  depth  of  about  200  feet  on  the 
incline.  The  ore  belt  averages  about  18  feet  of  pure  red  spec- 
ular— an  ore  that  has  acquired  great  popularity  among  fur- 
nacernen.  This  vein  was  originally  worked  as  an  open  cut, 


166  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

with  an  incline  tram-way  from  the  west  end  of  the  opening 
down  to  the  bottom,  the  deposit  then  appearing  to  be  a  pock- 
et rather  than  a  well  defined  vein.  When  it  was  found  that 
the  ore  dipped  under  the  overlying  mass  of  rock,  a  new  sys- 
tem was  inaugurated.  The  tram-road  in  the  west  end  was 
taken  up,  skip  roads  properly  located  on  the  floor  of  the  in- 
cline were  substituted,  as  much  of  the  overhanging  rock  as 
was  considered  dangerous  or  liable  to  fall  was  taken  down, 
and  the  vein  was  then  attacked  by  cutting  out  chambers  ten 
or  fifteen  feet  deep,  leaving  strong  pillars  of  ore  to  support 
the  hanging  wall.  This  plan  has  been  followed  since  1872, 
and  works  most  successfully.  A  row  of  these  pillars  extend 
along  the  whole  open  front  of  the  mine,  and  as  mining  pro- 
gresses others  are  left  here  and  there,  so  that  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  any  considerable  portion  of  the  wall  to  cave  in. 
At  the  east  of  the  mine  about  250  feet  of  this  vein  has  been 
worked  down  to  the  Cleveland  line,  but  what  has  been  lost  at 
this  point  has  been  regained  by  the  extension  of  the  vein  far- 
ther west.  At  a  point  some  distance  west  of  the  open  cuts 
referred  to,  a  shaft  was  sunk  140  feet  striking  a  body  of  very 
fine  magnetic  ore.  From  the  bottom  of  this  shaft  adrift  has 
been  made,  apparently  across  the  formation,  12  feet  south,  and 
another  a  few  feet  north,  showing  20  feet  of  pure  clean  ore, 
though  neither  the  foot  nor  hanging  wall  has  been  reached. 
At  this  point  the  ore  belt  appears  to  swing  around  to  the 
north,  and  the  developments  show  that  this  magnetic  deposit 
lies  immediately  under  the  red  specular.  From  the  bottom  of 
this  shaft  a  drift  has  been  made  through  into  the  main  mine, 
which  is  supplied  with  a  tram-road  to  connect  with  No.  1 
skip,  and  can  if  necessary  be  continued  to  others,  so  that 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  hoisting  out  all  the  ore  that  can 
be  mined  from  the  new  deposit,  which  appears  to  be  of  great 
extent.  The  strange  feature  of  this  new  discovery  is  that  the 
ore  is  a  very  pure  magnetic — the  first  ore  of  the  kind  yet 
found  in  the  district  east  of  the  Washington  and  Edwards 
mines. 

The  machinery  in  use  consists  of  three  engines — one  of 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  167 


which  operates  two  drums  for  hoisting  from  the  incline 
referred  to.  and  which  engine  and  drums  are  made  to  do  all 
the  work  of  no  less  than  seven  skip  roads.  This  is  accom- 
plished by  changing  the  ropes  as  required.  When  No.  1 
skip  is  filled,  and  the  signal  is  given,  the  rope  on  one  of  the 
drums  is  unhooked,  and  that  belonging  to  No.  1  skip  is 
attached  in  its  stead,  and  so  on,  among. the  whole  seven. 
The  men  in  the  engine  house  find  very  little  time  to  indulge 
in  dime  novels,  as  they  might,  were  each  skip  supplied  with  a 
separate  drum.  Another  engine  is,  or  was,  used  for  hois  ring 
from  No.  5,  a  cut  near  the  Northwestern  railway  track, 
where  there  is  a  twenty  foot  vein  of  good  ore.  This  opening 
is  not  now  being  worked,  as  is  also  the  case  with  the  cur,  west 
cf  the  store  011  the  north  side  of  the  creek.  There  are  eleven 
skip  roads  in  ail,  and  it  requires  no  less  than  eleven  steam 
pumps,  including  one  8  inch  plunger,  to  drain  the  mine  of 
surplus  water. 

About  150  men  are  employed — all  miners,  except  thirty  or 
forty  teamsters,  landers  and  laborers.  Nearly  all  work  in 
and  about  the  mine  is  done  by  contract.  The  men  get  a 
certain  price  per  ton  for  mining  the  ore,  and  others  a  certain 
price  for  filling  and  landing,  etc. ;  only  a  few  general  utility 
men  being  employed  by  the  month  or  day.  A  general  and 
most  rigid  system  of  economy  prevails,  and'  is  noticeable  in 
every  department.  Capt.  W.  E.  Dickenson,  who  is  an  old 
copper  miner,  has  been  superintendent  for  the  past  six  years, 
and  is  likely  to  continue  as  long  as  he  will  consent  to  serve 
in  that  position. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  product  of  the  New 
York  mine  each  year  since  the  commencement  of  mining 
operations : 

YEAH.  GROSS  TONS. 

1864 8,000 

1865 12214 

1866 33  J61 

1867 43,302 

1868 45,665 

1869 67,698 

1870 


168  MINERAL   RESOURCES 


1871 76.381 

1872 68,1)50 

1873 70,882 

1874 77,010 

1875 70,754 


Total 669,426 

On  another  page  will  be  found  an  engraving  showing  a 
section  of  this  mine,  as  it  appears  at  a  depth  of  200  feet  from 
the  surface. 

THE    REPUBLIC   MIKE. 

In  our  review  of  the  iron  district,  published  in  1871.  under 
the  sub-title  of  u undeveloped  iron  lands'"  we  referred  lo 
what  was  then  known  as  Smith  mountain,  as  being,  perhaps, 
uthe  most  extensive  body  of  iron  ore  yet  discovered  on  Lake 
Superior."  At  that  time,  aside  from  the  owners  of  the  prop- 
erty, but  few  persons  had  ever  visited  what  is  now  the  site  of 
one  of  the  most  active  and  prosperous  mining  industries  in 
the  region.  In  the  summer  of  1870,  the  writer,  together 
with  several  of  the  owners,  visited  the  location,  going  from 
the  east  end  of  Lake  Michigamme  and  down  the  river,  in  a 
small  boat,  with  the  celebrated  woodsman.  Jack  Armstrong, 
for  a  pilot  over  and  around  the  rapids.  That  was  then  the 
most  feasible  route,  unless  the  visitor  preferred  to  ride  a  horse 
through  swamps  and  over  the  most  abominable  trail  it  was 
ever  our  fortune  to  traverse.  We  found  at  the  foot  of  the 
"  mountain  "  a  little  log  hut,  the  only  habitation,  which  was 
occupied  at  the  time  by  Maj.  Brooks,  who  was  then  engaged 
on  the  state  geological  survey.  The  extract  above  quoted 
was  based  upon  the  observations  made  at  that  time,  and  it  is 
interesting  to  note  how  nearly  the  prediction  that  the  inine- 
could  be  '"  made  to  yield  a  hundred  thousand  tons  the  iirst 
year  after  the  commencement  of  operations,"  has  been  veri- 
fied. We  find  now  a  ''location"  with  a  population  of  at 
least  a  thousand  people,  all  of  whom  are  dependent  upon  the 
business  of  the  company  for  subsistence.  The  little  old  log- 
cabin  has  given  way  to  an  array  of  sixty-seven  neat  and  sub- 
stantial frame  tenement  and  boarding  houses,  office,  store, 
warehouse,  saw  mill,  blacksmith  and  carpenter  shops,  slaugh- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  169 


ter  house,  glycerine  and  powder  magazines,  engine  and  boiler 
houses,  stables,  ore  docks,  and  pockets,  etc.,  all  the  property 
of  the  company,  and  erected  at  a  cost  of  not  much,  if  any, 
less  than  $200,000.  There  is  also  a  commodious  school  build- 
ing, hotel  and  railway  depot,  aside  from  the  new  town  of 
Iron  Git}71,  where  there  are  a  number  of  stores,  boarding 
houses,  etc.  To  a  person  who  visited  "  Smith  mountain"  in 
1870,  or  even  a  year  later,  the  change  appears  almost  mi- 
raculous. 

The  articles  of  association  of  the  Republic  Iron  company 
were  executed  April  15th,  1870,  Samuel  P.  Ely,  Edward  Brei- 
tung,  Jonathan  Warner,  Edwin  Parsons  and  John  C.  McKen- 
zie  being  the  original  incorporators.  The  company  being 
organized,  the  first  important  step  was  to  secure  the  construc- 
tion of  a  branch  railway  from  some  point  on  the  Marquette, 
Houghton  &  Ontonagon  railroad,  to  the  mine.  An  arrange- 
ment was  effected  with  the  Marquette,  Houghton  &  Ontona- 
gon railroad  company,  and  work  on  the  branch  road  was  com- 
menced late  in  1871,  and  completed  the  following  autumn, 
the  first  train  of  loaded  ore  cars  leaving  the  mine  on  the  sec- 
ond of  October,  1872.  The  mine  was  opened  in  that  year, 
the  work  being  commenced  before  the  completion  of  the 
branch,  the  shipments  from  the  second  of  October  to  the  close 
of  navigation  being  11,025  gross  tons.  The  product  of  the 
mine  since  it  was  first  opened  is  given  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1872 11,025 

1873 105,453 

1874 126,956 

1875 119,768 


Total 363,202. 

The  Republic  is  situated  in  section  7,  township  46,  N., 
range  29,  W.,  on  the  easterly  shore  of  Smith's  bay,  a  widen- 
ing of  the  Michigamme  river,  about  thirty-six  miles  from 
Marquette,  by  rail.  The  ore,  thus  far,  has  all  found  an  outlet 
through  this  port,  the  Marquette,  Houghton  &  Ontonagon 
railroad  having  no  competitor  in  the  transportation  of  the 


170  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

product  of  the  mine  to  the  lake  side.  An  attempt  to  describe 
the  mine  without  the  aid  of  an  engraving  would  be  futile.  The 
vein  is  very  irregular,  and  has  so  many  crooks  and  turns  that 
a  well  engraved  sketch  is  actually  necessary  in  order  to  give 
the  reader  anything  like  an  intelligent  idea  of  the  formation. 
The  ore  deposit  lies  under  or  behind  a  belt  of  quartzite,  which 
last  seems  to  form  the  bed  of  the  bay.  The  quartzite  forms 
the  margin  and  apparently  the  basin  of  the  bay,  around  the 
south  end  of  which  it  curves  in  the  form  of  a  crescent.  Be- 
hind and  beneath  this  quartzite  lies  the  ore  vein,  and  under- 
neath the  ore  a  ferruginous  jasper,  backed  by  diorite  (green- 
stone). The  vein,  as  we  have  said,  is  very  irregular  in  its 
course,  and  at  one  or  two  points  narrows  down  to  only  a  few 
feet  in  width,  while  at  others  it  is  so  wide  as  to  have  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  immense  bed  deposit  rather  than  that  of  a 
vein  or  mere  stratification.  The  outcrop  of  the  ore  belt  is  from 
one  to  two  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  bay,  and  from' 
four  to  eight  hundred  feet  from  the  water's  edge,  the  inter- 
vening ground  being  occupied  by  the  company's  buildings, 
docks,  pockets,  railway  tracks,  etc.,  these  being  near  the  foot 
of  the  hill  or  bluff.  The  vein  of  pure  ore,  thus  far  developed, 
has  been  opened  for  a  distance  of  about  3,500  feet,  of  which 
2,000  feet  is  continuous  and  without  a  break.  The  average 
width  of  the  vein  is  from  20  to  50  feet,  though  in  No.  4  pit 
there  is  a  body  of  ore  fully  120  feet  in  width.  The  vein  is 
nearly  perpendicular,  and  thirteen  openings  have  been  made 
upon  it.  These  are  known  as  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10, 
11,  and  the  "Gibson"  and  "Ely"  pits.  Nos.  3,  8,  10,  11  and 
Gibson  are  not  now  being  worked.  At  many  places  where 
the  vein  has  been  opened  the  ore  is  found  projecting  itself 
into  the  foot  wall  in  the  shape  of  a  letter  V.  From  some  of 
these  spurs  and  projections  thousands  of  tons  of  pure  ore 
have  been  taken,  and  the  great  apparent  width  of  the  vein  in 
No.  4  is  partially  the  result  of  one  of  them,  and  in  one  of  the 
cuts — No.  2,  we  believe, — the  vein  itself  assumes  a  letter  Y 
shape  around  a  projection  of  the  foot  wall.  In  fact,  the  form- 
ation presents  many  peculiarities  difficult,  if  not  wholly  ini- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  171 

possible,  to  describe — and  we  shall  not  at  present  attempt 
further  details  in  that  direction. 

The  work  now  in  progress,  together  with  the  new  engine- 
house  and  machinery,  now  in  operation,  contemplates 
a  marked  improvement  in  the  .future  working  of  the 
mine.  The  vein,  for  a  length  of  nearly  2,000  feet,  has  been 
mined  out  from  a  depth  of  from  50  to  75  feet  below  the  out- 
crop, in  open  cuts.  It  is  the  intention  now  to  adopt  a 
thorough  system  of  underground  mining,  and  with  this  view 
shafts  have  been  sunk  from  the  floors  of  No.  5,  2  and  7,  from 
which  the  ore  will  be  hoisted  by  the  new  machinery. 

The  shaft  in  No.  5,  is  down  100  feet,  and  is  designed 
for  a  double  or  alternate  lift, — that  is  to  say  that  it  will  be 
supplied  with  two  cages,  one  of  which  rises  to  the  top  as  the 
other  descends  to  the  bottom.  This  shaft,  as  also  the  other 
two,  incline  from  the  perpendicular  so  as  to  conform  to  the 
dip  of  the  vein,  and  will  be  protected  by  solid  arches  or  pil- 
lars, in  the  rear  of  which  winzes  have  been  sunk  to  a  level 
with  the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  and  from  which  stopes  of  50 
feet,  the  whole  width  of  the  vein,  are  thus  secured.  No.  5 
shaft  is  a  most  perfect  piece  of  mine  work,  being  substan- 
tially timbered  and  having  two  separate  compartments,  leav- 
ing, on  the  side  next  to  the  engine-house,  sufficient  room  for 
the  pump,  and  also  space  for  hoisting  whenever  it  shall  be 
found  necessary  to  sink  the  shaft  to  a  lower  level — when  it 
can  be  done  without  interrupting  the  operation  of  the 
cages.  The  shafts  in  two  and  seven  are  for  single  cages, 
which  will  also  be  operated  by  drums  in  the  engine-house. 
These  three  shafts  will  furnish  the  outlet  for  all  the  ore 
raised  from  1,200  feet  of  the  vein.  The  cages,  as  will  more 
clearly  appear  from  a  description  of  the  machinery  given 
below,  receive  the  loaded  cars  at  the  bottom  of  the  shafts, 
which,  when  hoisted  to  the  top,  are  run  off  upon  the  tram- 
roads  and  thence  to  the  pockets.  The  lift  in  No.  5  shaft  will 
be  100  feet,  and  in  Nos.  2  and  7,  50  feet.  The  ore  from  Nos. 
5,  and  2,  shafts  will  be  raised  to  the  surface  proper,  and  from 
thence  pass  down  the  incline  tram-roads  to  the  railway;  that 


172  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

taken  out  through  the  shaft  in  No.  7,  will  be  hoisted  to  the 
floor  of  the  present  open  cut  and  pass  out  through  the  tunnel 
which  was  completed  a  year  or  two  ago,  and  is  supplied  with 
a  tram-road. 

The  new  hoisting  machinery,  which  is  of  the  most  massive 
and  powerful  kind,  was  manufactured  at  the  Iron  Bay  foun- 
dry, Marquette,  and  is  something  new  in  this  region. 
The  plan  or  system  is  similar  to  that  in  vogue  in  the  anthra- 
cite coal  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  though  differing  from  it 
somewhat  in  construction  and  minor  details.  Instead  of  the 
skip  now  in  general  use  at  our  mines,  cages  are  substi- 
tuted, each  large  enough  to  accommodate  a  car  holding  three 
tons  of  ore.  In  the  principal  shaft,  nearest  the  engine  house, 
(No.  5  pit)  there  are  two  of  these  cages,  which  when 
empty  or  when  containing  an  enipt}r  car  each,  suspended  by 
means  of  a  wire  rope  three  by  one-half  inches  in  size,  and 
wound  upon  a  cylinder  or  winze,  counterbalance  each  other 
in  such  a  manner  that  when  one  rises  to  the  top  of  the  shaft 
the  other  descends  to  the  bottom.  Immediately  that  a  loaded 
car  appears  at  the  surface  it  is  run  off  upon  a  dump  track, 
and  an  empty  one  rolled  into  its  place  in  the  cage.  This 
change,  at  the  same  time,  takes  place  at  the  bottom  of  the 
shaft,  with  the  difference  that  the  car  rolled  out  is  empty  and 
'the  one  supplying  its  place  is  filled  with  ore.  Signals  are  in- 
terchanged, and  the  engine  makes  the  necessary  revolutions 
for  the  ascending  and  descending  cages.  As  the  cages  and 
cars  thus  suspended  exactly  neutralize,  by  counterpoise,  the 
weight  of  each  other,  the  only  resistance  to  be  overcome  is 
that  of  the  ore  itself.  At  the  top  of  the  shaft  the  loaded  cars 
are  run  off  upon  a  track,  dumped,  and  returned  by  a  switch 
to  a  position  directly  in  the  rear  of  the  cage,  all  ready  to  be 
pushed  into  the  place  of  the  one  coming  from  the  shaft.  At 
the  bottom,  the  empty  cars  are  run  directly  to  the 
face  of  the  wall  and  filled  by  the  miners  immediately 
from  the  stope,  thence  returned  and  take  a  similar  position  to 
the  cage  as  at  the  top  of  the  shaft.  The  shafts  in  Nos.  2  and 
7  are  supplied  with  single  cages,  operated  by  two  single 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  173 

•winding  drums,  each  five  feet  in  diameter,  and  capable  of 
holding  600  feet  of  one  and  a  half  inch  round  wire  rope. 
The  alternating  cages  in  the  main  shaft  are  operated  from 
a  double  drum,  friction  gear,  and  eight  feet  in  diameter,  with 
a  capacity  for  750  feet  of  flat  wire  rope.  This  double  drum 
operates  in  such  a  manner  as  to  unwind  the  rope  of  one  cage 
Vviiile  the  other  is  being  taken  up,  so  that  though  both  cages 
are  in  motion  at  once,  much  time  is  saved  by  reason  of  the 
fact  that  while  one  is  discharging  its  load  the  other  is  receiv- 
ing it. 

The  new  engine  house  is  a  substantial  brick  structure,  40x 
72  feet,  with  a  boiler  room  20x45,  and  machine  shop  25x40. 
The  boilers  are  two  in  number,  each  48  inches  in  diameter, 
and  25  feet  one  inch  long.  Two  engines,  18x24,  connected, 
supply  the  power  for  the  drums  and  pump.  The  foun- 
dation for  the  engines  and  drums  is  of  the  most  substantial 
kind,  being  a  net  work  of  heavy  timbers  filled  in  with  solid 
masonry,  being  additionally  secured  by  no  less  than  70  inch 
and  a  half  round  iron  bolts.  There  were  forty-five  sticks  of 
timber,  18  inches  square  and  from  24  to  38  feet  in  length, 
used  in  the  foundation.  Some  idea  of  the  machinery  referred 
to  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  its  weight  is  upwards 
of  sixty  tons. 

In  addition  to  the  length  of  vein  above  referred  to,  a  new 
opening  is  now  being  made  southwesterly  from  the  Ely  pit, 
on  the  curve  of  the  formation,  where  a  vein  of  pure  slate  ore, 
from  two  to  seven  feet  wide  on  the  surface,  can  be  traced  a 
distance  of  600  feet. 

One  important  feature  about  this  extraordinary  mine  is  the 
fact  that  between  the  walls  very  little  rock  or  impure  ore  is 
found — the  rock  where  found  at  all,  away  from  the  walls, 
being  in  the  shape  of  small  islands,  or,  as  the  miners  call 
them,  "  horses,"  which  need  not  necessarily  be  removed,  and 
in  underground  mining  may  possibly  be  utilized  as  pillars  to 
support  the.  roof  of  the  mine.  However,  there  are  but  few 
of  these,  and  aside  from  them,  the  vein  is  all  pure  ore — how 


174 


MINERAL   RESOURCES 


pure  the  following  analyses,  which  have  been  furnished  us, 
tell  most  conclusively: 

An  abstract  of  fourteen  analyses  taken  by  various  parties  in   the  interest  of  the 
manufacturers.    Apart  being  only  for  specific  i)ropertits. 


BY   WHOM  PROCURED. 

c 
y 

"S 

c 

^i 

.i 
c/i 

i 

M 

Cambria  Iron  Works,  surface  specimens  in  1871 

65.11 
67.75 

68.01 
6988 

051] 
t'co 
.018 

I'.OS 
.84 
.86 

&02 
2.58 

,.3.'3 

do                        do                     do                      
do                        do                     do 

do                        do     M  agnetic    

Brown,  Bonuell  &  Co.,  for  iron  and  silica  .. 

do                        do    Magnetic 

71  8° 

E  .  R.  Taylor,  chemis  t  

(>U<> 
68.23 

Go.si; 

(Jlt.S'i 
67.55 
68.10 
(18  -10 

.080 
.150 
.073 
.060 

!osb 

Luc  v  Furnace  Company  

do              do              

do              do              .... 

1111 

do              do 

Cambria  Iron  Company,  in  1872  

do               do                 in  1874 

do              do                in  Ib75  

7060 

1.10!.... 

•.'.07'.... 

Average  M.  Iron  14  anal.  Phos.  10  anal.:  Silica.  8  anal  

68.48 

.053 

The  mine  gives  employment  to  about  230  men,  and 
commenced  shipments  this  spring  from  stock  piles  aggregat- 
ing at  least  50,000  tons. 

Capt.  Peter  Pascoe,  who  has  been  the  superintendent  in 
charge  ever  since  the  first  blow  was  struck,  is  justly  proud  of 
his  mine,  and  the  work  he  has  accomplished  gives  conclusive 
proof  of  his  rare  ability  as  a  miner. 

The  following  are  the  present  officers  of  the  company: 

President,  DAVID  MORGAN,  Irondale,  Ohio;  Vice-President^ 
EDWARD  BREITUKG,  Negaunee,  Mich. ;  Secretary,  T.  DWIGHT 
EELLS,  ^Cleveland,  Ohio;  Treasurer.  JOSEPH  PERKIXS,  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  General  Agent,  POWELL  STACKHOUSE,  Marquette, 
Mich. 

THE   MICHIGAMME   MINE. 

On  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Michigarnme,  in  town  48, 
range  30,  is  situated  the  Michigamme  mine,  owned  and 
wrought  by  a  company  of  the  same  name.  It  is  in  what  is 
generally  denominated  the  Michigamme  range,  which  ap- 
parently begins  at  a  point  near  the  head,  or  east  end  of  the 

*Since  deceased,  leaving  a  vacancy. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  175 


lake,  and  extends  west  a  distance  of  eight  miles  or  more, 
jtnd  embraces  the  Empire,  Hoskins,  Michigainme,  Spurr 
Mountain,  Stewart,  Iron  King  and  Harney  locations,  of 
ivliieh,  however,  only  the  Michigamme  and  Spurr  Mountain 
Lave  attained  prominence  as  successful  mines.  The  Michi- 
gamme company  own,  including  the  200  acres  embraced  in 
the  town  site,  an  estate  of  1,400  acres,  lying  in  a  compact 
body.  Upon  this  property  the  vein  has  been  opened  in  seven 
places,  the  openings  being  numbered  from  east  to  west,  suc- 
cessively. At  present,  operations  are  confined  to  that  por- 
tion of  the  vein  lying  between  No.  3,  and  a  point  about  200 
feet  west  of  No.  7,  a  run  of  about  1,600  feet.  From  the  west 
end  of  this  run  the  line  of  ore  deposit  has  been  traced  by 
needle  attractions,  outcrop  and  test  pits,  a  distance  of  3.500 
feet.  East  from  No.  3,  through  Nos.  2  and  1,  the  line  of  de- 
posit continues  on  the  company's  property  half  a  mile,  and 
for  still  another  half  mile  under  Lake  Michigamme,  of  which 
last  the  company  owns  the  mining  right.  The  total  length 
of  vein  owned  by  the  company,  is  about  two  miles.  Work 
was  originally  commenced  by  running  an  adit  level  along  the 
vein,  a  few  feet  above  drainage,  tapping  the  ore  at  the  most 
convenient  points,  by  open  cuts  through  the  drift  and  hang- 
ing wall  on  the  south.  This  system  was  continued  until  the 
ore  above  the  adit  level,  between  Nos.  3  and  7,  was  nearly 
worked  out,  and  the  employment  of  machinery  was  found  to 
be  necessary.  It  was  found  that  the  line  of  deposit  between 
Nos.  3  and  7  was  of  sufficient  extent  to  constitute  in  itself  a 
mine  of  good  proportions,  and  a  thorough  examination  and 
study  of  the  vein,  as  far  as  developed,  led  the  board  of  direct- 
ors, acting  upon  the  advice  and  suggestions  of  Mr.  Hough- 
ton,  the  general  agent,  to  determine  upon  a  system  of  under- 
ground mining,  exclusively.  Work  was  therefore  abandoned 
in  Nos.  1  and  2,  from  which  about  10,000  tons  had  been 
mined.  This  portion  of  the  deposit  lies  in  alternate  layers  of 
ore  and  rock,  while  that  west  of  No.  3,  to  and  beyond  No.  7, 
is  nearly  all  pure  ore;  the  width  or  thickness  of  the  vein 
averaging  not  less  than  twenty  feet.  It  is  thought,  how- 


176  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

ever,  that  in  the  east  portion  of  the  vein  the  ore  cuts  the 
rock  out,  or  vice  versa;  and  that  the  most  economical  way  of 
determining  the  question  would  be  by  a  gradual  extension  of 
underground  work,  east  from  No.  3,  at  some  time  hereafter. 
The  same  policy  will  be  adopted  in  future  operations  on  the 
vein  west  of  No.  7.  The  plan  is  a  most  conservative  one, 
inasmuch  as  it  simply  comprehends  the  opening  of  an  under- 
ground mine  on  the  most  prolific  part  of  the  vein,  (as  far  as 
developments  show)  and  the  gradual  and  economical  ex- 
tension of  underground  work  east  and  west,  until  the  whole 
of  the  workable  deposit  is  developed  and  made  productive. 

With  this  end  in  view,  shafts  have  been,  or  are  being,  sunk 
in  Nos.  4,  5,  6,  and  7,  to  a  depth  of  100  feet  below  the  adit 
level.  Twenty-five  feet  below  the  adit  level,  a  drift  is  being 
made  on  the  vein,  the  whole  length  of  the  proposed  under- 
ground mine,  leaving  twenty-five  feet  of  solid  ore  as  a  roof. 
This  roof  is  cut  only  by  the  four  shafts,  8x14  feet  each. 
These  shafts  are  in  the  ore  next  to  the  hanging  wall,  the 
whole  body  of  ore  in  the  rear  being  left  intact;  at  each 
side  of  these  shafts  winzes  will  be  sunk  from  the  drift  abover 
leaving  a  sufficient  body  of  ore  to  protect  the  shaft  and  sup- 
port the  walls.  At  the  bottom  these  winzes  will  be  con- 
nected with  the  shafts  by  drifts  through  the  intervening 
walls  or  screens,  and  thus  will  be  obtained  stopes  of  from  60 
to  75  feet  on  both  sides  of  each  shaft.  The  ground  will  then 
be  broken  from  the  top  with  an  underhand  stope,  and  the  ore 
falling  to  the  bottom  will  be  hoisted  out  in  skips  through 
the  shafts.  As  we  have  said,  this  plan  contemplates  the 
opening  of  an  underground  mine,  embracing  1,600  feet  of 
vein,  and  the  sinking  of  the  shafts,  and  winzes  referred  to, 
will  open  enough  ground  for  two  years'  steady  work.  It  will 
be  readily  perceived  that  the  plan  thus  outlined  differs  ma- 
terially from  the  common  system  of  underground  mining,  in 
that  the  cost  of  tunneling  on  each  separate  level  is  saved; 
there  will  be  no  drifting  or  tunneling  on  any  of  the  levels 
except  to  connect  the  shafts  and  winzes  at  the  bottom  by  a 
drift  through  a  few  feet  of  ore,  if  we  exclude  all  mention  of 


UNDERGROUND  SECTION  NEW  YORK  1ROK  MJN& 


I 


176 MINERAL    RESOURCES 

ever,  that  in  the  east  portion  of  the  vein  the  ore  cuts  thl? 
rock  out,  or  vice  versa;  and  that  the  most  economical  way 
determining  the  question  would  be  by  a  gradual  extension  01 
underground  work,  east  from  No.  3,  at  some  time  hereai 
The  same  policy  will  be  adopted  in  future  operations  on 
vein  west  of  No.  7.     The  plan  is  a  most  conservative  011. 
inasmuch  as  it  simply  comprehends  the  opening  of  an  muU 
ground  mine  on  the  most  prolific  part  of  the  vein,  (as  far 
developments   show)  and   the   gradual  and    economical  «*JF 
tension  of  underground  work  east  and  west,  until  the  wlic 
of  the  workable  deposit  is  developed  and  made  productive. 
With  this  end  in  view,  shafts  have  been,  or  are  being,  sin 
in  Nos.  4,  5,  6,  and  7,  to  a  depth  of  100  feet  below  the  ; 
level.     Twenty-five  feet  below  the  adit  level,  a  drift  is  b 
made  on  the  vein,  the  whole  length  of  the  proposed  und 
ground  mine,  leaving  twenty-five  feet  of  solid  ore  as  a  root. 
This  roof  is  cut  only  by  the   four  shafts,  8x14  feet   e|i: 
These  shafts  are  in  the  ore  next  to  the  hanging  wall,  ^ 
whole   body   of   ore  in  the  rear  being  left  intact;   at   ep" 
side  of  these  shafts  winzes  will  be  sunk  from  the  drift  abo  < 
leaving  a  sufficient  body  of  ore  to  protect  the  shaft  and  sui 
port  the  wails.     At  the  bottom  these  winzes  will  be  co. 
nected  with  the  shafts  by  drifts  through  the   intervening 
walls  or  screens,  and  thus  will  be  obtained  stopes  of  from  6( 
to  75  feet  on  both  sides  of  each  shaft.     The  ground  will  then 
be  broken  from  the  top  with  an  underhand  stope,  and  the  ore 
falling  to  the  bottom  will  be  hoisted  out  in  skips  throupr1 
the   shafts.     As  we   have  said,  this   plan  contemplates    ' 
opening  of  an  underground  mine,  embracing  1,600  fee'- 
vein,  and  the  sinking  of  the  shafts,  and  winzes  referrec 
will  open  enough  ground  for  two  years'  steady  work.     It 
be  readily  perceived  that  the  plan  thus  outlined  differ? 
terially  from  the  common  system  of  underground  miiiir 
that  the  cost  of  tunneling  on  each  separate  level  is  sa 
there  will  be  no  drifting  or  tunneling  on  any  of  the  L 
except  to  connect  the  shafts  and  winzes  at  the  bottom  • 
drift  through  a  few  feet  of  ore,  if  we  exclude  all  mentij 


UNDERGROUND  SECTION  NEW  YORK  IRO^  ; -MIN&;  ;%;';  /,\ 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  177 

the  drift  immediately  under  the  roof,  without  which,  it  would 
have  been  impossible  to  carry  the  underground  plan  into 
execution.  The  shafts  and  winzes  down  and  connected,  the 
stoping  parties  will  work'  both  ways  until  the  whole 
body  of  ore  down  to  the  first  level  is  worked  oat;  in  the 
meantime  the  shafts  and  winzes  have  been  sunk  to  the  second 
level  without  in  any  way  interfering  with  or  retarding  opera- 
tions in  the  level  above,  and  thus  a  uniform  product  for  each 
and  every  month  in  the  year  is  secured.  We  regard  this 
plan  one  of  the  best  that  could  possibly  be  devised,  as  being 
calculated  to  secure  the  largest  product  at  the  least  expense. 
As  might  naturally  be  inferred,  the  most  powerful  and 
elaborate  machinery  is  necessary  to  the  successful  working 
of  a  mine  on  the  plan  adopted  by  the  Michigamme  company. 
The  water  from  the  mine  will  be  raised  by  a  steam  pump 
placed  in  each  shaft,  instead  of  from  one  main  pumping  shaft, 
as  is  the  case  in  most  of  the  mines  in  the  district.  By  this 
means  the  necessity  of  drifts  or  tunnels  on  each  and  every 
level  to  drain  the  mine,  is  obviated.  But  the  machinery  for 
hoisting  the  ore  must  necessarily  be  of  the  most  powerful 
kind,  and  the  new  engine  and  hoisting  drums  at  the  Michi- 
gamme answer  full}'  to  that  description.  The  engine  is 
28x36,  and  the  drums,  of  which  there  are  four — one  for  each 
shaft — are  eight  feet  in  diameter,  with  six  feet  face,  each 
capable  of  holding  enough  1^-inch  wire  rope  to  hoist  the 
skip  from  a  depth  of  1,300  feet.  They  are  worked  by  V 
friction  gear,  with  steam  brakes;  there  are  four  steam  brake 
cylinders,  12x12,  one  to  each  drum.  The  machinery  is  all 
placed  on  a  solid  foundation  of  stone  masonry,  in  the  bottom 
of  which  are  iron  bed  plates,  to  which  are  secured  the  numer- 
ous heavy  iron  bolts,  by  means  of  which  the  timbers  upon 
which  the  engine  and  drums  rest  are  held  firmly  and  securely 
in  their  places.  This  machinery  was  constructed  at  the  Mich- 
igan Iron  Works,  S.  F.  Hodge,  Detroit,  and  is  first  class  in 
every  particular.  The  building  in  which  this  machinery  is 
placed  is  a  most  substantially  built  stone  structure,  50x70 
feet  in  size,  with  a  wing  28x38  feet,  in  which  are  the  boilers. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


The  building  is  situated  on  the  summit  of  the  hill,  between 
shafts  Nos.  5  and  6,  about  midway  of  the  line  of  deposit 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  underground  system 
described  above.  The  machinery  is  capable  of  raising,  with 
moderate  ease,  from  800  to  1,200  tons  of  ore  per  day,  a  daily 
production  which  it  is  possible,  even  probable,  the  mine  may 
attain,  should  the  demand  for  ore  ever  again  warrant  a  vigor- 
ous prosecution  of  work. 

The  product  of  the  mine,  since  it  was  first  opened  in  1872, 
has  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS   TOSS. 

1872 141 

1873 29,107 

1874 45,294 

1875 : 44,763 

Total 119,305 

The  following  named  gentlemen  constitute  the  Board  of 
directors:  Hon.  W.  H.  Barnum,  Lime  Rock,  Conn.;  Ralph 
Crocker,  Boston,  Mass.;  Charles  J.  Canda,  New  York  City; 
Charles  B.  Hebbard,  Detroit,  and  Jacob  Houghton,  Michi- 
gamme.  Mich. 

The  officers  are: 

President,  HON.  W.  H.  BARNUM;  Secretary  and  Treasurer, 
JAMES  ROOD,  Chicago;  Superintendent,  JACOB  HOUGHTOX. 

The  business  office  of  the  company  is  at  No.  9,  Metropoli- 
tan block,  Chicago. 

SPURR   MOUNTAIN    MINE. 

This  property  embraces  the  north  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  and  south  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
24,  township  43,  range  31,  Baraga  county.  Work  at  this 
mine  was  commenced  on  the  23d  day  of  September,  1872; 
but  little  was  done  that  year.  Railway  communication  had 
not  been  completed,  and  active  operations  were  not  com- 
menced until  late  in  the  seasofi,  just  as  winter  set  in,  when 
provisions  had  to  be  packed  in  from  Champion,  a  distance  of 
ten  miles,  on  the  backs  of  the  pioneers,  through  as  rough 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  179 

swamps  as  can  be  found  anj- where  in  the  district.  During 
the  winter,  however,  the  Marquette,  Houghtoii  and  Ontona- 
gon  railway  was  completed  to  L'Anse,  a  switch  laid  down  to 
the  mine,  a  station  house,  and  several  boarding  and  dwelling 
houses  erected,  and  in  the  spring  the  company  was  ready  to 
commence  shipments  from  a  very  considerable  stock-pile, 
the  mine  having  been  sufficiently  opened  to  afford  a  yield  of 
about  2,500  tons  in  February  and  March,  1873.  In  the 
month  following,  the  product  reached  3,200  tons,  and  in  May 
6,100  tons  were  mined.  In  June  a  conflagration  occurred 
from  fire  communicated  by  the  railway  engines  to  the 
dry  wood  011  both  sides  of  the  track,  which  swept  the  loca- 
tion of  all  its  buildings,  except  the  station  house  and  the  com- 
pany's office,  and  operations  at  the  mine  were  suspended  for 
two  weeks. 

The  mine  now  embraces  about  900  feet  of  the  vein,  about 
the  center  of  the  company's  tract  on  an  east  and  west  line, 
leaving  over  five  hundred  feet  on  either  side  to  be  opened  at 
such  time  or  times  as  the  demand  for  an  increased  product 
may  warrant  enlarged  operations.  The  vein  lies  against  the 
bluff,  which  seems  to  form  the  foot  wall  the  whole  length  of 
the  range,  and  dips  at  an  angle  of  about  twenty  degrees 
south.  The  average  width  of  the  vein  is  about  twenty  feet, 
almost  pinching  out  at  one  or  two  points,  and  at  others 
swelling  to  a  thickness  of  nearly  forty  feet.  There  are  four 
shafts  or  openings — Nos.  1,  2,  3  and  4.  Nos.  1  and  2  are  skip 
shafts,  through  which  the  ore  is  raised  by  steam  power  from 
a  depth  of  150  feet.  From  Nos.  3  and  4  the  ore  is  raised  by 
horse  power,  but  it  is  the  intention  to  discard  the  whim  and 
derrick  at  no  distant  day,  and  put  in  skip  roads  and  cars,  to 
be  operated  by  drums  the  same  as  Nos.  1  and  2.  The  mine 
is  at  present  drained  by  two  steam  pumps,  one  in  each  of 
the  main  shafts.  The  plan  of  mining  is  similar  in  some  re- 
spects to  that  adopted  at  the  Michigamme.  There  will  be  no 
sinking  farther  than  is  necessary  to  accommodate  the  skip 
roads,  and  provide  the  proper  underhand  stopes,  of  which 
there  will  be  eight  in  all.  During  the  winter  the  skip  shafts,  so- 


180  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

called,  were  sunk  sixty  feet  below  the  present  working  level, 
so  as  to  open  enough  ground  to  insure  a  large  product  during 
the  present  season.  There  is  very  little  if  any  dead  work  to 
be  done,  the  ore  raised  from  the  skip  shafts  being  sufficient 
to  pay  the  expense  of  sinking.  A  sufficient  number  of 
arches  are  left  to  support  the  walls,  and  though  at  the  time 
of  our  visit  the  mine  presented  anything  rather  than  its 
most  favorable  aspect,  we  could  readily  perceive  that  opera- 
tions were  being  skillfully  conducted,  and  that  the  plan 
adopted  was,  perhaps,  the  only  one  that  could  be  employed 
to  secure  the  largest  product  at  the  smallest  cost. 

The  machinery  employed  in  hoisting  from  Nos.  1  and -2 
consists  of  a  powerful  engine  and  two  drums,  the  latter  four 
feet  diameter  and  four  feet  face,  large  enough  to  hold  sufficient 
wire  rope  to  hoist  from  a  depth  of  800  feet.  These  drums 
will  be  duplicated  in  the  spring,  and  the  new  set  applied  to 
the  operation  of  Nos.  3  and  4.  The  machinery  was  manufac- 
tured at  the  Iron  Bay  foundry,  in  this  city,  and  works  most 
satisfactorily. 

No  explorations  of  the  vein  west  of  the  mine  proper  have 
yet  been  made,  but  there  seems  to  be  no  good  reason  why  the 
line  of  deposit  may  not  be  found  to  continue  unbroken  to  the 
western  line  of  the  company's  tract.  Immediately  west,  at 
the  Stewart  mine,  a  good  show  of  ore  has  been  found,  and  the 
magnetic  needle  indicates  almost  conclusively  that  the  deposit 
extends  all  the  way  through  the  north  half  of  section  23,. 
west  of  the  Stewart.  To  the  east  of  that  part  of  the  vein 
which  has  been  opened,  there  appears  to  be  a  break  or  de- 
pression caused  by  a  small  creek  which  flows  through  the 
tract,  but  east  of  this  stream  an  opening  has  been  made,  and 
from  it  about  3,000  tons  of  ore  have  been  mined.  Near  the 
surface,  however,  the  ore  is  considerably  mixed,  and  great  care 
is  necessary  in  its  selection. 

The  mine  gives  regular  employment  to  about  125  men. 
Since  the  commencement  of  operations  the  shipments  of  ore 
have  been  as  follows: 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  181 

TEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1873 31,933 

1874 42,068 

1875 23,094 

Total 97,095 

Colonel  Freeman  Norvell,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  the 
copper  district,  is  the  general  manager,  and  Captain  William 
Morrison,  an  experienced  miner,  mining  captain. 

THE   SAGLSTAW  MIN"E 

is  in  section  19,  town  47,  range  27,  about  two  miles  southwest 
of  the  city  of  Ishpeming.  The  mine  was  originally  opened 
by  Messrs.  Maas,  Lonstori  &  Mitchell,  in  the  winter  of 
1871-'72,  under  the  terms  of  a  fifteen  years1  lease.  In  1872 
these  gentlemen  sold  their  lease  to  a  party  of  Cleveland  gen- 
tlemen, connected  with  the  Cleveland  Rolling  Mill  company, 
who  afterwards  organized  the  Saginaw  Mining  company, 
The  lessors  of  the  property  reside  in  East  Saginaw — hence 
the  name  of  the  mine  and  company.  The  mine  produced  the 
first  year  after  being  opened  18,503  gross  tons,  a  product 
which  has  increased  with  each  succeeding  year,  as  will  be 
.shown  by  the  table  below. 

Mining  was  originally  prosecuted  in  open  cuts,  or  quarries, 
by  removing  the  overlying  rock  and  lean  ore.  It  was  soon 
found,  however,  that  the  underground  system  was  the  only 
plan  upon  which  the  mine  could  be  successfully  worked,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1872,  a  shaft  was  sunk  in  the  soft  hematite, 
which  underlies  the  hard  ore,  its  direction  corresponding  with 
the  dip  of  the  vein.  Other  shafts  were  subsequently  sunk  to 
the  sixty  foot  level,  at  such  convenient  distances  apart  as  to 
provide  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  work  along  the 
whole  length  of  the  vein  on  the  company's  property.  These 
shafts  are  numbered  respectively,  1,  2,  3  and  4,  from  west  to 
east.  The  leasehold  consists  of  a  tract  of  five-forties,  four  of 
them  being  the  center  of  the  section,  and  the  fifth  being  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter.  The  vein  or  belt 
of  ore  crosses  this  last  mentioned  tract  from  east  to  west,  be- 
ing continuous  with  the  ore  belt  of  the  Superior  on  the  east, 
the  Albion  and  Goodrich  on  the  west.  The  same  general 


182  MINERAL   RESOURCES  . 

geological  features  described  in  our  article  on  the  ik  New 
Burt,"  are  noticeable  at  the  Saginaw,  and  the  character  of 
the  ore  is  about  the  same.  There  are  two  varieties  of  hard 
ore — slate,  and  an  exceedingly  rich  granular,  the  latter  con- 
taining an  unusually  large  percentage  of  magnesia. 

About  900  feet  of  the  vein  has  been  opened.  Shafts  2,  3 
and  4  are  down  to  the  second  level,  160  feet,  and  arc  now 
sinking  to  the  third,  sixty  feet  below  the  second.  At  several 
places  the  vein  is  cut  by  cross-courses  of  rock,  through  which 
drifts  have  been  made  on  the  first  and  second  levels,  allowing 
the  main  bodies  to  stand  as  supports  to  the  hanging  wall. 
From  No.  4  shaft  there  is  a  run  of  TO  feet  of  ore  to  the  Su- 
perior line,  where  one  of  these  rock  crossings  is  encountered, 
dipping  into  the  Saginaw.  West  of  this  shaft  there  is  a  con- 
tinuous run  of  pure  ore  for  a  distance  of  180  feet  to  another 
rock  crossing,  through  which  a  drift  leads  into  No.  3.  It 
will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  in  No.  4  the  ore  belt  has  a  length 
of  250  feet — the  width  of  the  vein  being  on  the  average  about 
25  feet.  The  ore  in  No.  4,  is  of  the  variety  known  as  "  slate." 
West  of  the  crossing  between  Nos.  3  and  4,  there  is  another 
run  of  pure  ore  100  feet,  to  a  heave  in  the  formation,  which 
throws  the  vein  to  the  north  about  twenty-five  feet,  west  of 
which  the  vein  continues  unbroken  another  100  feet  to  an- 
other of  the  rock  crossings  referred  to;  which  makes  a  break 
of  twenty-five  feet  in  the  ore.  West  of  this  break  the  vein 
holds  a  width  or  thickness  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  ta 
No.  2  shaft.  From  the  crossing  between  Nos.  2  and  3  to  the 
shaft,  the  ore  is  a  very  rich  granular,  wholly  unlike  the  de- 
posit in  No.  4.  West  of  No.  2  shaft,  the  vein  has  been 
opened  120  feet,  at  which  point  another  wall  of  rock  has  been 
encountered,  but  beyond  which  ore  has  been  found  in  No.  1 
shaft.  No.  1  shaft  is  down  75  feet  in  " slate  and  steel"  ore, 
but,  owing  to  the  great  flow  of  water,  had  to  be  abandoned 
until  such  time  as  the  water  could  be  drained  into  No.  2,  the 
main  pumping  shaft.  Indeed,  much  trouble  is  experienced 
from  the  great  flow  of  water,  in  all  the  openings,  three  pumps- 
being  required  to  prevent  the  mine  from  being  flooded.  These 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  183 


pumps  are  kept  in  constant  operation,  day  and  night,  and  the 
expense  of  maintaining  them  is  a  very  prominent  item  in 
the  cost  of  mining. 

The  general  dip  of  the  vein  east  of  No.  2  shaft,  is  about 
fifty  degrees  north;  west  of  No.  2  the  strike  is  only  about 
fifteen  degrees  in  the  same  direction.  The  width  or  thick- 
ness of  the  ore  deposit,  is  given  as  it  appears  on  the  second 
level;  it  is  proper,  however,  to  add  that  the  width  gradually 
increases  as  greater  depth  is  attained,  the  general  average  at 
the  outcrop  having  been  but  little  more  than  ten  feet. 

The  hoisting  machinery  employed  at  present  consists  of 
three  drums,  operated  by  one  of  Merritt's  18x21  engines,  the 
boilers  for  which  also  furnish  the  steam  for  all  the  pumps. 
The  power  is  hardly  equal  to  the  requirements  of  the  mine, 
and  another  engine  for  hoisting  and  pumping  has  been  pur- 
chased, and  is  now  on  the  ground,  and  will  probably  be  set 
up  and  put  in  operation  early  in  the  summer.  This  engine 
and  machinery,  which  is  of  the  most  approved  pattern,  was 
manufactured  for  the  company  at  Cleveland,  and  when  put 
in  motion  will  furnish  all  the  facilities  for  hoisting  and 
pumping  that  are  likely  to  be  required  in  many  years  to 
come. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  product  of  this  mine  each 
year  since  it  was  first  opened : 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS.     ' 

1872 18,503 

1873  '"37,138 

1874 45.486 

1875 55,318 

Total 156,445 

The  mine  gives  employment  to  about  175  men.  Capt. 
Sam.  Mitchell,  an  active,  intelligent,  practical  miner,  is  the 
superintendent.  Everything  about  the  mine  gives  promi- 
nent indication  that  he  is  thoroughly  competent  for  the 
position  he  holds.  He  has  taken  all  necessary  precautions, 
from  the  beginning,  to  secure  the  mine  with  timbers  and  the 
necessary  arches  and  pillars  of  ore,  and  an  accident  involv- 
ing the  loss  of  life,  at  the  Saginaw,  is  scarcely  possible, 


184  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

except  it  be  the  result  of  carelessness  on  the  part  of  the  em- 
ployes. One  noticeable  feature,  is  the  fact  that  but  very 
little  rock  is  removed  from  the  mine — only  that  which  is 
taken  from  the  drifts  through  the  rock  crossings  referred  to, 
being  taken  out.  It  is  safe  to  estimate  that  not  to  exceed 
1,000  tons  of  rock  have  been  raised  during  the  past  year, 
and  were  it  not  for  the  unusual  flow  of  water,  the  cost  sheet 
would,  we  think,  exhibit  a  less  amount  of  cost  per  ton  of  t>re 
mined,  than  that  of  any  other  hard  ore  mine  in  the  district. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are:  President,^.  B.  STONE, 
Cleveland,  0.;  Vice  President,  H.  CHISHOLM,  Cleveland,  0.; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  A.  G.  STOKE,  Cleveland,  0. 

The  entire  product  of  this  mine  is  shipped  over  the  North- 
western line  to  Escanaba,  though  it  possesses  the  facilities  of 
a  branch  connecting  with  the  M.,  H.  &  0.  R,  R.  These 
tracks  run  immediately  under  the  docks  connected  with  the 
various  shaft  houses,  and  in  the  season  of  navigation  the  ore 
is  transferred  directly  from  the  skips  to  the  railway  cars,  thus 
avoiding  the  cost  of  re-handling.  But  few  horses  are  em- 
ployed, and  there  is  no  carting  of  ore  as  at  many  other  mines 
in  the  district.  Altogether,  the  Saginaw  is  in  the  best 
possible  condition  for  future  production,  and  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  the  annual  product  can  be  very  largely  increased,  when- 
ever the  demand  for  ore  shall  warrant  the  prosecution  of 
'mining  operations  on  a  larger  scale  than  has  been  the  order 
at  all  die  mines  during  the  past  two  years. 

THE  MARQUETTE  MINE 

is  contiguous  to  the  Cleveland,  and  is  owned  by  the  stock- 
holders of  the  latter  company,  though  under  a  separate  or- 
ganization. The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers: 

President,  JOHN  OUTHWAITE;  Secretary,  FRED.  A.  MORSE; 
Treasurer,  SAMUEL  L.  MATHER;  Agent,  JAY  C.  MORSE; 
Superintendent,  F.  P.  MILLS. 

The  first  shipments  were  made  in  1864,  though  it  appears 
that  work  was  commenced  much  earlier.  We  append  a  state- 
ment of  the  product  of  the  mine  for  the  past  twelve  years: 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  185 


YEARS.  CROSS  TOXS. 

1864 3,922 

1865 6,652 

1866 7,907 

1867 7,862 

1868 7,977 

1869 2,798 

1870 3,702 

1871 

1872 11,924 

1873 2,148 

1874 

1875 .  3,088 


Total 57,980 

THE  EDWABDS  MIKE 

is  situated  in  section  2,  town  47  north,  range  29  west — the 
workings  being  confined  to  the  southwest  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter.  The  first  opening  was  made  in  the  fall  of 
1865,  but  nothing  more  was  done  that  year  than  to  sink  a  few 
test  pits  by  way  of  exploration.  Active  operations  were 
•commenced  the  following  spring,  by  the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake 
Angeline  company,  under  a  lease  from  J.  W.  Edwards,  the 
owner  of  the  land.  The  company  continued  operations  till 
the  tall  or  winter  of  1873,  when  owing  to  the  depressed  state 
of  the  ore  market,  operations  were  wholly  suspended.  In  the 
spring  of  1875,  the  company  sold  its  mining  equipment  to 
Mr.  Edwards  and  surrendered  the  lease.  Mr.  Edwards  at 
once  made  arrangements  for  a  renewal  of  operations,  but  had 
scarcely  got  fairly  to  work,  when  a  fire  destroyed  his  engine 
house  and  pumping  and  hoisting  machinery,  occasioning  a 
partial  suspension  of  work  of  several  weeks'  duration.  The 
machinery  was  replaced  by  that  formerly  employed  at  the 
Kloman,  a  new  engine  and  boiler  house  was  erected,  and  op- 
erations resumed  within  six  weeks  after  the  suspension  caused 
by  the  fire.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Edwards  sold  the  forty  acre  tract 
upon  which  the  mine  is  situated,  together  with  400  acres  ad- 
joining, to  W.  W.  Wheaton,  Esq.,  who  at  once  took  posses- 
sion and  assumed  the  general  management.  The  mine  ad- 
joins the  Washington,  is  about  28  miles  distant  from  Mar- 
quette,  on  the  Republic  branch  of  the  M.,  H.  &  0.  railroad 
near  its  junction  with  the  main  line.  The  bluff  or  hill  in 


186 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


which  the  Edwards  is  located  crosses  the  tract  from  northeast 
to  southwest,  the  ledge  being  generally  covered  with  sand, 
gravel  and  iron  boulders.  On  the  north  side  of  the  ore  the 
rocks  are  quartz,  either  compact,  fibrous  or  slaty,  the  latter 
form  externally  resembling  talcose  slate.  On  the  south  is  a 
range  of  green  stone.  The  vein,  to  which  operations  have 
been  principally  confined,  is  about  forty-five  feet  in  width, 
widening  out  at  some  places  to  fifty.  The  ore  is  of  two  kinds 
— one  of  a  dark  bluish  black  color,  highly  crystalline,  very 
heavy,  and  when  free  of  quartz,  almost  a  pure  magnetic  or 
black  oxyde,  yielding  by  analysis  71.87  of  metallic  iron.  The 
other  is  a  red  oxyde,  very  heavy,  and  of  the  quality  desig- 
nated as  "slate"'  ore. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  from  what  we  have  said  that  the 
deposit  is  confined  to  a  single  vein;  on  the  contrary,  there 
are  no  less  than  four  regular  veins,  separated  by  walls  of  tal- 
cose slate  varying  from  16  to  40  feet  in  thickness.  These 
veins  all  cross  the  tract  from  northeast  to  southwest,  as  shown 
in  the  following  diagram: 

XOKTH. 


SOUTH. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  187 

At  present  operations  are  confined  to  the  two  middle  veins, 
from  which  it  will  be  very  easy  to  reach  the  others  by  drifts 
through  the  intervening  walls  of  rock.  The  north  vein  is 
fifty  feet  in  width,  and  the  ore  is  believed  to  be  equally  as 
rich  as  those  now  being  worked. 

The  work  in  the  Edwards  is  all  underground,  the  ore  being 
raised  through  two  main  shafts,  which  are  now  down  to  the 
fifth  level,  300  feet  from  the  surface.  These  shafts  are  380 
feet  apart,  and  are  now  being  carried  down  to  the  sixth  level, 
through  ore.  They  are  both  on  the  incline  of  the  foot  wall, 
and  are  supplied  with  four  skips — two  for  hoisting  the  ore  to 
the  surface,  and  two  that  are  employed  in  hoisting  to  the 
poekebs  at  the  lower  end  of  the  skip  roads,  underground,  the 
latter  not  being  completed  down  to  the  lower  levels.  The 
vein  in  No.  3  pit  is  50  feet  thick,  and  has  been  opened  out 
340  feet  lengthwise.  In  No.  2,  the  vein  is  smaller,  though 
large  enough  for  all  practical  purposes.  A  large  deposit  has 
been  found  west  of  No.  3,  on  the  fourth  level,  and  is  being 
mined  and  brought  out  to  No.  3  shaft. 

The  mine  is  now  in  excellent  condition,  and  there  is  no 
reason  why,  with  careful  management,  it  may  not  be  made 
to  yield  a  handsome  profit  to  the  owner.  The  product  for 
1876  is  estimated  at  about  40,000  tons— 30,000  tons  magnetic 
and  the  balance  first-class  specular,  or  "slate.'1  The  Edwards 
ore  has  always  maintained  a  good  reputation,  and  furnace- 
men  are  fully  acquainted  with  its  merits.  Since  the  mine 
came  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wheaton  he  has  been  using  the 
ore  as  a  mixture  with  his  Rolling  Mill  hematite,  and  red  spec- 
lar  ores,  with  the  most  satisfactory  results,  making  the  best 
grade  of  Bessemer  pig. 

About  80  underground  miners  are  employed  at  present, 
but-  enough  ground  has  been  broken  to  afford  room  for  double 
that  number,  should  the  demand  for  the  ore  warrant  increased 
production.  The  ore  can  be  mined  and  placed  on  the  cars 
as  cheaply  as  at  any  other  hard  ore  mine  in  the  district. 

The  product  of  the  Edwards  since  since  the  commence- 
ment of  operations  has  been  as  follows: 


188  .  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

TEAKS.  TONS. 

1866 2,843 

1867 4,928 

1868 17,360 

1869 19,151 

1870 24,232 

1871 26,437 

1872 28,380 

1873 38.968 

1874 2,849 

1875 12,800 


Total 177,948 

Jas.  Bale,  an  experienced  miner,  is  superintendent,  assisted 
by  Gordon  Murray,  mining  captain. 

THE  NEGAUNEE  HEMATITE  RANGE. 
In  1872  there  seemed  to  be  the  best  of  reasons  for  the  belief 
that  the  then  newly  developed  hematite  mines,  near  Negaunee, 
would  assume  majestic  proportions,  and  become  a  distinct 
and  most  important  feature  of  the  Lake  Superior  iron  trade. 
All  the  properties  on  this  range  were  in  demand.  Whilst 
being  owned  and  controlled  by  proprietors  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, who  could  have  given  their  neighbors  all  the  advantages 
which  might  come  of  favorable  bargains,  the  inquiries  from 
abroad  and  the  numerous  attempts  which  were  made  to  buy 
interests  in  these  properties,  by  foreign  as  well  as  by  local 
operators,  caused  the  owners  to  put  their  "forties"  and 
" eighties"  at  enormous  values.  One  "forty,"  for  instance, 
where  a  mine  was  partially  developed,  was  held  at  $200,000.— 
a  price  which  no  one,  unless  demented,  would  think  of  paying 
for  a  hematite  mine,  especially  with  the  royalties  added. 
The  panic  came,  and  the  lease  of  the  same  u  forty  "  has  been 
forfeited,  as  have  also  the  leases  of  a  number  of  other  proper- 
ties, then  considered  valuable  and  held  at  a  high  valuation, 

The  characteristics  of  this  range  are  brown  and  red  hema- 
tites, varying  in  quality  from,  forty-five  to  sixty  per  cent,  in 
Metallic  iron,  in  the  blast.  The  brown  ore  exists  in  the 
largest  quantity,  and  some  of  it  is  sufficiently  hard  and  com- 
pact to  compare  favorably  with  the  specular  ores.  It  lies 
in  small  pockets,  and  in  large  masses  or  deposits,  the  smaller 
deposits  being  usually  mixed  with  more  or  less  jasper. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  189 

The  most  important  and  prolific  of  the  mines  opened  on 
this  range  is  the 

KOLLISTG  MILL  MINE, 

which  is  situated  in  section  7,  town  47  north,  range  26  west, 
where  the  company  owns  a  forty  acre  tract — the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  section — and  also  an 
undivided  half  of  the  forty  acres  adjoining  it  on  the  east;  Mr. 
A.  L.  Crawford,  of  Newcastle,  Pa.,  owning  the  other  undivided 
half,  which,  however,  he  has  leased  for  a  term  of  years  to  the 
company.  The  first  opening  was  made  in  the  fall  of  1871,  in 
which  year  only  236  tons  were  taken  out  and  shipped  to  the 
furnace  in  Marquette.  The  ore  was  found  to  be  most  excel- 
lent as  a  mixture  with  the  specular  and  magnetic  ores,  and 
preparations  were  at  once  made  for  permanent  work;  since 
then  operations  have  been  continued  uninterruptedly,  and 
with  the  most  gratifying  results.  The  mine  is  justly  regarded 
as  the  best  soft  hematite  mine  in  the  district,  the  bed  or 
deposit  being  of  unusual  extent,  and  the  ore  carrying  not 
only  a  high  percentage  of  metallic  iron,  but  being  possessed 
likewise  of  peculiar  properties  which  render  it  easy  of 
reduction,  and  very  desirable  for  Bessemer  pig. 

Four  pits  have  been  opened — Nos.  1,  2,  3  and  4.  Work  is 
at  present  confined  to  Nos.  2  and  3,  which  are  virtually  one, 
showing  a  solid  bed  of  ore  400  feet  in  length,  and  believed  to 
be  not  less  than  200  feet  wide.  These  pits  have  been  opened 
out  to  a  width  of  over  100  feet  from  the  foot  wall,  and  a  care- 
ful examination  encourages  the  belief  that  there  is  a  breast  of 
ore  nearly  as  wide  lying  between  the  open  pit  and  the  hang- 
ing wall,  which  last  has  not  yet  been  reached  by  drift  or  other- 
wise. The  ore  in  this  pit  has  been  worked  out  to  a  depth 
of  70  feet,  and  the  floor  appears  to  be  a  body  of  solid  ore. 
A  main  hoisting  shaft  is  being  put  down  from  the  foot  of 
No.  2  skip,  which  will  give  an  open  stope  from  which  it  is 
estimated  that  at  least  30,000  tons  of  ore  can  be  mined.  The 
estimated  production  of  the  mine  for  1876,  is  from  40,000  to 
80,000  tons,  the  amount  depending  to  a  great  extent  on  the 
state  of  the  market. 


190  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

The  location  of  the  mine  is  especially  favorable,  being  sit- 
uated only  one  mile  from  the  city  of  Negaunee,  at  which 
place  it  is  connected  by  a  side  track  with  both  railways,  and 
is  thus  afforded  the  advantage  of  competing  routes  for  the 
transportation  of  its  product.  Thus  far,  by  much  the  larger 
bulk  of  its  product  has  been  shipped  to  Marquette,  a  part 
being  used  at  the  company's  furnace,  and  the  balance  shipped 
to  lower  lake  ports. 

The  improvements  at  the  mine  consist  of  a  large  engine, 
agent's  dwelling,  a  sufficient  number  of  comfortable  houses 
for  employes,  carpenter  shops,  barn,  etc.  The  ore  is  raised 
from  the  mine  in  skips  operated  by  a  reversible  12x18  engine 
and  four  drums.  Two  of  these  drums  are  five  feet  in  diame- 
ter, arid  the  others  three  feet,  all  V  friction  gear,  and  of  suffi- 
cient capacity  to  do  all  the  work  required  of  them  with  ease 
and  facility.  They  were  made  at  the  Ii#n  Bay  foundry,  Mar- 
quette; the  engine  is  from  the  Detroit  Bridge  works. 

The  mine  gives  employment  to  an  average  force  of  100 
men.  The  shipments  the  past  five  years  have  been  as  fol- 
lows : 


YEAR. 

1871 

GROSS  TONS. 

230 

1872.  

G  772 

1873 

11  310 

1874       .  . 

10  043 

1875  

.37  800 

Total  . 

..72.776 

W.  W.  Wheatou,  Esq.,  is  the  general  manager,  and  the 
increased  production  of  the  mine  since  he  assumed  control  of 
the  company's  affairs,  is  the  best  possible  evidence  of  the 
energy  and  ability  which  characterizes  his  management. 
Captain  James  Bale  is  superintendent. 

THE   M'  COMBER  MIKE 

Which  is  also  on  this  range,  was  opened  by  Wm.  C. 
McComber  in  1870.  In  1872  the  leasehold  was  sold  to  the 
McComber  Iron  Company,  of  which  S.  L.  Mather,  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  is  president  and  treasurer,  and  Fred  A.  Morse,  of  the 
same  city,  secretary.  Jay  C.  Morse,  of  Marquette,  is  the 
general  agent.  This  mine  is  situated  on  the  hill  just  south 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  191 

of  Negaunee,  on  lands  owned  by  James  P.  Pendill,  Esq..  who 
receives  a  royalty  of  fifty  cents  per  ton  on  all  the  ore  mined. 
The  land  was  once  the  property  of  the  Detroit  Iron  Mining 
Company,  which  filed  its  articles  of  association  in  1857.  This 
coiupmy  having  made  some  unsuccessful  explorations, 
sold  the  land  to  Mr.  Pendill,  by  whom  further  unsatisfactory 
explorations  were  made.  Mr.  McComber  having  secured  a 
lease,  went  diligently -to  work,  and  in  the  first  year  developed 
a  mine  which  has  since  added  very  materially  to  the  produc- 
tion of  the  district. 

The  improvements  at  the  mine  consist  of  a  number  of 
substantial  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  employes, 
engine  and  hoisting  machinery,  etc.  There  are  four  hoisting 
shafts,  and  one  central  pumping  shaft,  the  necessary  pockets, 
side  tracks,  etc.,  to  facilitate  shipments,  and  altogether  the 
mine  may  be  considered  one  of  the  best  hematite  properties 
in  the  district. 

The  production  of  the  McComber  has  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1870 4,866 

1871 15,942 

1872 24,153 

1878  38,969 

1874 2,641 

1875 10,407 

Total 96,978 

THE    GRAND   CENTRAL   MINE 

was  opened  in  1870,  by  S.  S.  Burt  and  I.  S.  Waterman.  It 
is  a  leasehold,  paying  a  royalty  of  75  cents  per  ton,  under 
the  terms  of  a  sub-lease  from  Hon.  E.  Breitung.  It  was 
worked  till  the  close  of  1873,  with  fair  results,  when,  owing 
to  the  panic,  work  was  suspended,  and  the  sub-lease  forfeited. 
In  1875,  Mr.  M.  T.  Gaffney,  of  Negaunee,  obtained  the  lease, 
and  re-opened  the  mine,  working  a  small  force  a  part  of  the 
summer.  The  mine  has  produced  ore  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS    TONS. 

1870 1,809 

1871. 2,921 

1872 9,925 


192  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

1873 6,62^ 

1874 „ 

1875 987 

Total 22,27 1 

The  other  mines  opened  on  this  range  are:  The  Green 
Bay,  the  Negaunee,  the  Allen,  the  Ada,  Himrod,  Hematite, 
and  Spurr  &  Calhoun.  Some  other  leases  were  given,  but 
these  are  the  only  mines  that  have  been  wholly  or  even 
partially  developed. 

The  Green  Bay  mine  was  opened  by  a  company  of  that 
name  in  1871,  and  mined  and  shipped  up  to  the  close  of  the  year 
8,582  tons,  when  work  was  suspended.  Last  summer  the 
lease  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Mitchell  Bros.,  practical 
miners,  who  have  renewed  operations,  and  propose  to  work 
the  mine  for  all  it  is  worth.  The  Negaunee  mine  is  the 
leasehold  property  of  Maas  &  Lonstorf,  and  has  mined  and 
shipped  11,684  tons.  The  mine  has  not  been  wrought  since 
1873.  The  Allen  was  opened  by  Messrs.  Allen,  Crocker  and 
Shelden,  who  mined  and  shipped  9,34:7  tons  in  1872-'73,  since 
which  the  mine  has  been  dormant.  The  Himrod  mined  and 
shipped  2,074  tons,  and  then  suspended.  The  other  so-called 
mines  on  the  range  never  made  any  shipments. 

THE  CASCADE  DISTRICT. 

Tli ere  are  embraced  in  this  range  or  district  the  mines  of 
the  Palmer  Iron  company,  (formerly  Cascade  Iron- Co. ^Pitts- 
burgh and  Lake  Superior,  Gribben,  Carr  and  Home. 

.    THE   PALMER   IRON    COMPANY 

has  an  estate  of  3,120  acres,  located  on  sections  19,  20,  29, 
30,  26  and  27,  in  ranges  26  and  27,  towns  46  and  47.  The 
ore  is  of  the  granular,  slate  and  hematite  orders,  or  the  mi- 
caceous specular  and  magnetic  oxides,  ranging  from  60  to 
66f  per  cent,  in  richness,  some  of  it  yielding  as  high  as  68 
per  cent.  The  deposit  of  granular  ores,  as  shown  by  the 
openings  already  made,  and  the  test-pits  which  have  been  put 
down  on  the  property,  lies  in  crescent  shape  from  west  to 
east,  with  the  center  of  the  curve  lying  south.  For  the  most 
part  the  elevations  and  outcrops  are  from  fifty  to  two  hun- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  193 

drecl  feet  above  the  base  of  mining  and  shipping  levels,  giv- 
ing working  faces  in  some  instances  two  hundred  feet  in 
height,  while  the  depressions  show  no  variation  in  quantity 
or  quality  of  the  ore.  At  one  point  in  the  course  of  the 
crescent,  a  depression  occurs  where  a  branch  of  the  Escanaba 
river  falls  some  forty  feet  over  an  iron  ledge,  showing  that 
the  depth  of  the  iron  in  the  bluffs  on  either  side  of  the  stream 
is  in  all  probability  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet, 
including  the  elevation,  and  possibly  considerably  more.  To 
the  south  of  the  ridge  of  this  crescent  another  bluff  of  iron 
is  located,  like  a  bulwark  in  front  of  the  main  wall  of  a  line 
of  military  fortifications. 

The  openings  011  the  Palmer  property  consists  of  Nos.  1,  2, 
3,  4,  5,  6,  and  the  West  End  mine.  The  first  opening  was 
•made  at  No.  4,  on  the  east,  in  the  summer  of  1864,  but  not 
until  a  branch  road  was  brought  in,  a  distance  of  six  miles, 
from  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  in  1871,  was 
there  any  effort  made  to  take  out  ore.  In  September  of  that 
year  operations  were  commenced  at  No.  4  for  shipment,  and 
some  4,100  tons  were  taken  out  and  sent  to  market  before  the 
close  of  the  season.  In  addition  to  the  openings  referred  to, 
may  be  mentioned  the  Emma  and  Bagaley  mines,  which  had 
been  leased  to  other  parties,  and  the  leases  of  which  have 
been  forfeited. 

The  product  of  the  Palmer  mine,  including  the  Emma 
and  Bagaley  has  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1871 4,171 

1872 39,495 

1873 28,920 

1874 18,198 

1875  4,071 


94,855 

It  is  proper  to  add  that  operations  were  suspended  at  this 
mine  from  the  fall  of  1874  till  some  time  in  the  following- 
summer,  the  old  Cascade  Company  having  met  with  finan- 
cial reverses  by  which  it  was  forced  into  bankruptcy.  The 
new  company  commenced  operations  last  summer,  its  busi- 


194  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


ness  affairs  being  under  the  general  management  of  Joseph 
Kirkpatrick,  Esq. 

THE  PITTSBURGH  AND  LAKE  SUPERIOR 

adjoins  the  Palmer,  and  was  energetically  worked  in  1872, 
and  during  a  part  of  1873,  the  shipments  having  been  as 
follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1872 1,160 

1873 21,498 

1874 1,302 

Total 24,020 

The  mine  is  now  idle,  and  the  quality  of  the  ore  is  such 
that  a  renewal  of  operations  at  any  time  in  the  future  is 
questionable. 

THE  GRIBBEN  MINE 

was  opened  by  the  Gribben  Iron  Company  in  the  summer  of 
1872.  The  ore  is  a  red  specular,  though  scarcely  up  to  the 
standard  of  first  class  shipping  ores.  The  only  shipments 
(4,517  tons,)  were  made  in  1873.  Is  now  idle. 

THE   CARR  MINE 

was  opened  in  the  summer  of  1872,  and  after  mining  2,603 
tons,  suspended  operations. 

THE   HOME 

is  also  a  new  mine,  not  now  being  wrought.  Its  product 
in  1873-'4  was  3,229  tons. 

Of  this  Cascade  range,  aside  from  the  West  End,  of  the 
Palmer,  very  little  can  be  said  of  a  commendatory  character. 
The  deposits  are,  it  is  true,  very  extensive,  but  with  the 
exception  named,  the  ore  cannot  be  considered  first  class. 
There  is,  notwithstanding,  a  large  amount  of  good  ore  to  be 
found  at  all  the  mines  on  the  range;  but  it  is  generally  so 
closely  associated  and  intermixed  with  the  leaner  ores  as  to 
render  separation  well  nigh  impossible.  Until  the  demand 
for  the  ores  of  the  district  is  such  as  to  call  for  those  of  a 
second  or  inferior  quality,  it  is  not  probable  that  operations 
at  these  mines  will  be  resumed. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  195 

THE   SMITH   MIKE. 

The  property  of  this  company  is  located  on  sections  18 
and  20,  range  25,  town  45,  consisting  of  412  acres,  in  the 
former  section,  and  386  in  the  latter,  all  being  located  west 
of  the  west  branch  of  the  Escanaba  river.  The  company 
was  organized  on  the  1st  of  November,  1871,  through  the 
purchase  of  an  interest  in  the  property  by  the  late  Gen. 
James  Pierce,  of  Sharpsville,  Pa.,  and  Henry  Fassett,  of 
Ashtabula,  Ohio.  The  original  tract  was  the  property  of 
Silas  C.  Smith,  and  consisted  also  of  section  28,  in  the  same 
range;  but  this  section  still  remains  the  property  of  Mr. 
Smith.  The  first  opening  was  made  on  section  20  some  two 
years  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  present  company, 
and  sufficient  ore  taken  out  to  render  satisfaction  regarding 
its  character  and  quality.  Subsequently  the  south-east  quar- 
ter of  section  18,  was  found  to  present  better  advantages  for 
mining,  and  this  was  adopted  by  the  new  company  as  the 
principal  point  for  working. 

The  ore  is  mainly  a  hard  brown  and  red  oxyde,  with  strong 
indications,  as  the  deposit  is  worked,  of  running  into  a  hard 
specular  ore.  The  mine  is  supplied  with  shipping  facilities 
by  a  branch  railroad,  five  miles  in  length,  connecting  with 
the  main  line  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  railway,  about 
eighteen  miles  below  Negaunee.  Operations  at  the  mine 
were  entirely  suspended  in  the  summer  of  1873,  owing  to 
the  general  blow  out  among  the  Shenango  Valley  furnaces, 
and  particularly  those  at  Sharpsville,  of  which  Gen.  Pierce 
was  the  principal  owner.  It  is  more  than  probable  that 
operations  will  be  resumed  the  present  season.  Shipments 
have  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1872 13,445 

1873 9,328 


Total 22,773 

WINTHROP  AND  SAGINAW  RANGE. 

This  range  is  opened  at  intervals  for  a  distance   of  two 
miles,  from  the  Shenango  mine,  about  two  miles  south-west 


196  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

of  Ishpeming,  in  a  westerly  direction,  to  what  is  known  as 
the  Goodrich  mine. 

While  the  formation  at  either  opening  does  not  corres- 
pond entirely  with  that  of  the  others,  and  while  the  ores  are 
specular,  slate  and  brown  hematite,  sometimes  in  separate 
pockets  and  sometimes  juxtaposed,  there  is  good  reason  for 
believing  that  the  deposit  is  continuous,  dipping  north  and 
west,  with  the  hematite  on  the  foot  wall,  the  slate  under 
the  hanging  wall,  and  the  specular  between. 

THE  GOODRICH  MIIfE. 

This  mine  is  the  most  westerly  one  opened  on  the  range. 
It  is  the  property  of  Capt.  Goodrich,  Chicago,  and  was 
opened  in  1873.  It  had  been  explored  a  few  years  ago,  by  the 
St.  Glairs,  of  the  Washington,  but  after  a  tunnel  was  driven 
into  an  elevation  for  some  distance,  without  satisfactory 
results,  the  work  was  abandoned.  Subsequently,  some  Ne- 
gaunee  and  Green  Bay  parties  came  into  possession  of  the 
lease,  the  largest  interest  of  which  afterwards  went  into  the 
hands  of  Capt.  Goodrich. 

The  geological  formation  here  is  very  irregular.  The 
alluvial,  mineral  and  rock,  are  thrown  together  in  the  utmost 
confusion.  The  work  is  located  on  an  upheaval,  three  sides 
of  which  are  accessible  for  cut  and  breast  mining.  Each  of 
these  sides  yield  ore,  and  enough  has  been  taken  out  to 
satisfy  the  owners  that  they  have  a  good  mine.  The  ores  are 
banded  hard  hematite,  of  but  little  value,  bird's  eye  in  large 
quantities,  maganeseous  slate,  and  a  granulated  specular  ore. 
It  has  a  branch  connection  with  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern, 
and  the  Marquette,  Houghton  &  Ontonagon  railroads.  The 
product  of  the  mine  thus  far  is  reported  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS   TONS. 

1873 3,258 

1874 3,100 

1875 1,780 

Total 8,138 

The  Goodrich  will  ultimately  develop  into  a  first  class 
mine.  That  the  Saginaw  vein  extends  through  the  property. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  197 

there  is  little  room  to  doubt,  and  the  existence  of  a  deposit  of 
fine  slate  ore  011  the  property  is  known  to  those  who  explored 
the  land  before  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  present 
owners.  All  that  is  required  to  bring  the  Goodrich  into 
prominence  is  a  reasonable  expenditure  through  the  medium 
of  an  intelligent,  competent  management. 

THE   ALBION   MItfE 

was  opened  in  1872..  It  is  situated  between  the  Saginaw  and 
Groodrich;  was  worked  for  nearly  two  years,  but  did  not 
re-imburse  the  owners  for  the  money  expended.  It  is,  per- 
haps, a  good  property,  but  its  successful  development  will 
require  more  capital  than  was  anticipated.  It  was  conse- 
quently abandoned,  the  lessees  forfeiting  their  lease.  The 
total  shipments  were  2.228  tons. 

THE   KEW   ENGLAND 

formerly  owned  by  Capt.  E.  B.  Ward,  is  now  the  property  of 
the  Lake  Superior  Company,  and  has  been  fully  described  in 
connection  with  the  other  mines  of  that  company.  The 
mine  was  opened  in  1866,  and  up  to  the  time  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  present  owners,  the  shipments  were: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1866 3,150 

1867 9,075 

1868 8,257 

1869 12,632 

1870  24,871 

1871... 33,359 

1872 17,465 

1873 181 

Total 108,990 

The  Saginaw  forms  the  subject  of  a  sub-division  elsewhere 
in  this  work,  and  the  "New  Burt"  is  fully  described  in 
connection  with  the  Lake  Superior  company's  mines. 

THE   WIJ*  THROP 

adjoins  the  old  New  England  on  the  east,  and  is  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Winthrop  Iron  company,  though  now  under 
lease  to  Messrs.  A.  B.  Meeker  and  H.  J.  Colwell.  Work  was 
commenced  in  the  summer  of  1870,  since  which  time  the 
shipments  have  been  as  follows: 


198  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1870 3,4<J9 

1871 11,088 

1872 1*,239 

1873 33,456 

1874 7,5*9 

1875 7,502 

Total 77,303 

The  ore  is  an  excellent  brown  hematite,  quite  popular  with 
furnacemen,  and  yields  by  analysis  from  sixty  to  sixty-five 
per  cent. 

The  workings  at  the  mine  embrace  an  excavation  some 
three  or  four  hundred  feet  in  length,  with  an  average  width 
of  perhaps  fifty  feet,  worked  down  to  a  depth  of  about  sixty 
feet  at  the  deepest  point.  The  deposit  from  which  the  bulk 
of  the  product  is  taken  is  about  forty  feet  wide,  but  the  length 
has  not  yet  been  determined — being  continuous  with  the 
Shenango  on  the  east,  and  extending  west,  it  is  believed, 
across  the  entire  tract.  This  deposit  was,  until  lately,  sup- 
posed to  be  all  there  was  of  the  mine,  but  recently  what  was 
believed  to  be  the  foot  wall  of  the  mine  was  ascertained  to  be 
nothing  but  a  thin  layer  or  stratification  of  soapstone,  behind 
which  lies  another  large  deposit  of  clean  ore,  the  extent  of 
which  has  not,  however,  been  fully  determined.  It  is  found 
also  that  another  deposit  lies  back  of  the  present  hanging 
wall,  and  it  looks  to  us  as  if  it  might  eventually  be  found  to 
cut  out  both  walls,  and  that  what  now  appears  to  be  three 
separate  deposits  are  really  one,  the  foot  and  hanging  walls 
of  which  have  not  yet  been  reached.  Let  this  be  as  it  may, 
there  is  certainly  a  large  body  of  fine  ore  in  sight  from  which 
it  will  not  be  diffienlt  to  mine  50,000  tons  the  coming  year, 
should  that  amount  be  called  for. 

The  ore  is  hoisted  by  means  of  an  incline  from  the  railway 
pockets  to  the  bottom  of  the  mine,  the  cars  upon  which  are 
operated  by  a  wire  rope  so  arranged  that  an  empty  car  de- 
scends the  incline  whenever  a  loaded  one  is  drawn  up.  The 
hoisting  machinery  was  made  by  Crane  Bros.,  Chicago,  and 
is  of  sufficient  capacity  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR,  199 

mine  at  present,  and,  by  adding  additional  drums,  for  years  to 
come. 

THE  SHENANGO  MIKE. 

This  mine  lies  immediately  east  of  the  Winthrop — in  short, 
the  two  are  working  in  the  same  opening — the  Shenango 
being  only  011  a  lower  level — and  are  practically  the  same 
body  of  ore. 

Shipments  have  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1872 197 

1873 8,658 

1874 7,549 


Total 16,404 

The  mine  has  not  been  worked  the  past  year,  bat  mining 
will  probably  be  resumed  the  present  season.  The  officers  of 
the  company  are:  President,  C.  DONKERSLEY,  Marquette; 
'Vice  President,  GEO.  C.  REIS,  New  Castle,  Pa.;  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  HENRY  D.  SMITH,  Appleton,  Wis. 

THE   HOWELL   HOPPOCK 

is  a  partially  developed  mine,  located  about  half  a  mile  south 
of  the  Winthrop.  The  ore  is  lean  and  silicious,  for  which  it 
is  not  probable  a  market  can  ever  be  found.  After  mining 
2,205  tons,  the  company  abandoned  the  mine. 

MICHIGAN  MINE. 

About  one  mile  south  of  Clarksburgh  Station,  a  mine  was 
opened  in  1872,  with  fair  promise  of  success,  by  the  Michigan 
Iron  Company.  Some  3,000  tons  were  mined  and  used  at  the 
company's  furnace,  but  the  mine  was  finally  abandoned, 
owing  to  the  financial  embarrassment  of  the  company.  A 
separate  joint  stock  company  was  afterwards  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  working  the  property,  but  have  never  done 
anything.  The  vein  carries  an  average  width  of  about  ten 
feet,  the  ore  being  a  rich  granular. 

THE   EMPIRE    MINE 

is  situated  on  the  line  of  the  M.  H.  &  0.  R.  R.,  between 
Champion  and  Michigan! me,  on  the  south-west  quarter  of 


200  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

section  22,  town  48,  range  30,  but  lias  never  been  sufficiently 
worked  to  prove  that  it  has  any  particular  merit. 

THE   IRON   KING   AND   HARNEY 

are  new  undeveloped  .properties  lying  between  the  Michi- 
gamme  and  Spurr,  upon  which  considerable  money  has  been 
expended,  but  without  developing  anything  of  particular 
value. 

THE   STEWART   MIKE 

is  in  section  23,  west  of  the  Spurr.  A  fair  deposit  of  ore  has 
been  found,  but  very  little  work  has  been  done  since  the 
beginning  of  the  panic.  The  mine  is  the  property  of  the 
Stewart  Mining  Company,  and  the  prospects  are  fair  for  the 
development  of  a  first  class  mine,  whenever  work  is  resumed 
and  continued. 

In  the  Republic  group,  properly  speaking,  are  situated  the 
Kloman,  Cannon,  Metropolis,  Erie,  Berea,  Chippevva  and 
Magnetic  mines. 

THE  KLOMAN   MINE 

is  situated  on  the  Michigarnnie  River,  opposite  the.  Republic. 
It  is  owned  by  Pittsburgh  parties,  and  was  opened  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  Lucy  furnace.  Work  was  commenced  in  the 
fall  of  1872  and  continued  till  the  spring  of  1875, 
when  the  mine  was  abandoned  and  allowed  to  fill  with  water. 
The  vein  was  opened  along  a  distance  of  1,000  feet,  to  a 
depth  of  30  feet  below  drainage,  and  the  abandonment  of  the 
mine  by  the  owners  was  a  matter  of  astonishment  to  the 
people  of  the  district.  The  shipments  were  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1873 21,005 

1874 85,088 

1875 8,059 


Total 64,212 

The  machinery  was  sold  to  W.  W.  Wheaton,  by  whom  it 
is  now  employed  at  the  Edwards  mine.  It  is  hardly  to  be 
expected  that  a  mine  which  yielded  so  well  in  the  early  stages 
of  development,  will  be  permanently  abandoned;  we  look 


. 
OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  201 

for  a  renewal  of  operations  at  the  Kloman,  either  by  the 
present  owners,  or  by  others,  whenever  a  revival  of  the  iron 
trade  shall  seem  to  warrant  increased  production  by  the 
district  at  large. 

THE    METROPOLIS 

was,  a  year  or  two  ago,  heralded  abroad  as  a  new  property  of 
great  value,  and  one  which  would  ultimately  rival  the  Re- 
public in  the  quantity  and  quality  of  its  product.  A  com- 
pany was  formed  in  Pittsburgh,  to  whom  the  stock  was  sold 
at  fancy  figures,  and  work  was  commenced  with  a  grand 
flourish  of  trumpets.  After  the  expenditure  of  a  very  con- 
siderable sum  in  opening  the  newly  discovered  deposit,  the 
property  was  abandoned  as  worthless,  very  little  if  any 
shipping  ore  being  found. . 

THE   ERIE 

is  a  new  mine,  belonging  to  Rawle,  Noble  &  Co.,  together 
with  some  Chicago  parties,  and  promises  to  develop  into  a 
valuable  property.  In.  the  work  of  exploration,  some  3,000 
tons  of  first  class  ore  has  been  taken  out  and  hauled  a  distance 
of  six  miles  to  the  railway.  Capt.  James  F.  Trowell  is 
Superintendent. 

THE   CANNON   MINE 

is  the  property  of  the  Cannon  Iron  Company.  Consider- 
able exploration  work  has  been  done,  with  a  fair  prospect  for 
the  developeinent  of  a  good  mine,  as  soon  as  railway  commu- 
nication is  secured.  Samuel  Peck  is  the  General  agent. 

THE   MAGNETIC 

is  another  promising  new  mine,  though  remote  from  rail- 
way communication.  A  shaft  has  been  sunk  in  what  appears 
to  be  a  large  deposit  of  good  ore,  and  further  explorations  are 
in  progress  with  a  view  to  determining  its  extent.  Mr.  Peck 
is  also  agent  for  the  Magnetic. 

THE   CHIPPEWA  AND   BEREA 

are  new  properties,  upon  which  large  deposits  of  lean  ore 
have  been  found,  but  so  far  very  little,  if  any,  first  class  ore 
has  been  uncovered. 


202  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

THE    IRON   CLIFFS   COMPANY, 

owns  the  Foster,  Barnum,  Salisbury,  Excelsior  and  Row- 
land mines,  and  also  work  the  Pioneer  mine  under  a  lease 
from  the  Jackson  Iron  Company. 

THE   FOSTER  MINE. 

The  old  Foster  openings  at  the  Cliffs  location  were  largely 
extended  during  1873,  and  two  new  openings  made  on  the 
highest  elevation  of  the  property,  which  have  yielded  large 
quantities  of  good  ore.  The  ore  at  all  the  openings  varies 
considerably  in  quality,  some  of  it  being  strongly  manganes- 
eous,  some  red  oxide,  and  some  hard  brown. 

Near  the  mine  is  the  new  Cliffs  furnace,  of  which  more 
will  be  said  further  along.  Another  opening,  known  as  the 
Salisbury,  is  on  the  south  side  of  Lake  Angeline  ridge,  adjoin- 
ing the  Pittsburg  and  Lake  Angeline  Company's  property. 
A  large  area  of  dark  hematite  has  been  worked  out  here.  In 
short,  the  bed  is  regarded  as  among  the  best  in  the  region, 
extending  across  the  boundaries  of  the  Cliffs  and  the  Pitts- 
burg  and  Lake  Angeline  Company. 

The  product  of  the  Foster  has  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS   TONS. 

1866-'7-'8 6  000 

1869  14.000 

1870 23,458 

1871 13,203 

1872 '18.139 

1873 27,372 

1874 3,318 

1875 '. . .  067 

Total 106,157 

THE   BARNUM  MINE 

is  on  section  9,  town  47,  range  27,  and  but  a  short  distance 
from  the  Lake  Superior  Company's  principal  openings.  It 
was  first  opened  in  the  summer  of  1867,  but  shipments  did 
not  commence  till  some  time  in  June,  1868,  in  which  year 
14,380  gross  tons  were  mined  and  shipped.  The  ore  is  a  very 
fine  specular,  fully  up  to  the  shipping  standard. 

A  branch  of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R'y  was  laid  to  the  mine  in 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  203 

June,  1868,  and  all  the  shipments  have  been  made  over  that 
road,  though  the  opening  is  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the 
side  tracks  of  the  M.  &  0.  R.  R.,  at  the  Lake  Superior  mine. 

The  mine  is  supplied  with  pumping  and  hoisting  machin- 
ery, of  the  most  substantial  kind,  capable  of  raising  500  tons 
every  24  hours. 

The  following  table  of  shipments  will  give  an  adequate  idea 
of  the  value  and  capacity  of  the  mine. 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1863 14,380 

1869 33484 

1870 44.793 

1871 45,939 

1872 38.381 

1873 48,076 

1874 41,403 

1875 43,209 

Total 309,665 

Wm.  Sedgwick,  an  experienced  miner,  who  served  his  ap- 
prenticeship with  Capt.  Merry,  at  the  Jackson,  is  superin- 
tendent. 

The  shipments  from  the  other  mines  owned  by  the  Iron 
Cliffs  Company  have  been  as  follows: 

EXCELSIOR. 

YE\R.  GROSS  TONS. 

1872 7o6 

1874 1,065 

1875 2,860 


Total 4,681 

SALISBURY. 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1872 545 

1874 7,480 

1875 4,330 


Total 12,355 

There  has  been  shipped  from  the  Rowland  mine  2,288 
gross  tons,  making  a  total  product  for  all  the  Iron  Cliffs  Go's 
mines,  of  432,858  gross  tons,  not  including  the  Pioneer, 
which  has  been  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  Jackson. 


204  MINERAL   RESOURCES 


THE  IRON   MOUNTAIN   MINE 

is  on  the  south  half  of  section  14,  Town  47,  Range  27.  the 
estate  comprising  320  acres.  The  mine  was  opened  in  the 
fall  of  1864,  and  the  first  shipments  made  in  1865.  in  which 
year  the  C.  &  N.  W.  R'y  Company  supplied  the  mine  with  a 
branch  railroad.  The  following  table  exhibits  the  product  of 
the  mine  since  being  opened : 

YEAR.  GHOSS  TONS. 

1865 898 

18o6 6,860 

1867 5,000 

1868  3,836 

1873 112 

1875 1,635 

Total 18,341 

The  Iron  Mountain  ore  is  of  the  specular  or  sesqui-oxyde 
variety,  the  deposit  being  an  immense  well-stratified  bed,  at 
such  an  elevation  above  drainage  as  to  give  a  face  of  from  40 
to  100  feet  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  layers  are  of 
such  thickness  as  to  break  readily  by  blasting  into  slabs  of 
convenient  size  for  shipment.  A  trap  uplift,  running  from 
north-west  to  south-east,  divides  the  ore  bed,  and  inclines  the 
same  about  30  degrees.  The  first  opening  was  made  on  the 
south-west  shore  of  Foster  Lake,  in  the  ore  bluff  on  the 
north  slope  of  the  trap  uplift — the  deposit  being  .nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  length,  and  from  900  to  1,500  feet  in 
width.  A  working  face  of  30  feet  was  obtained  in  driving 
an  open  cut  of  150  feet  through  the  ore,  which  gradually 
improved  in  quality,  till  what  is  thought  to  be  the  best  ore 
on  the  location,  in  any  considerable  quantity,  at  least,  Avas 
reached.  From  this  cut  has  been  taken  all  the  ore  shipped 
from  the  mine.  The  ore  makes  iron  of  an  excellent  quality, 
being  perfectly  free  from  anything  of  an  injurious  nature, 
but  it  is  rather  lean  for  the  present  market,  yielding  only 
from  50  to  55  per  cent,  in  the  furnace,  against  67  per  cent, 
of  other  Lake  Superior  ores.  The  ore  was  found,  however, 
to  possess  one  quality  which  encouraged  the  company  to 
persevere  in  their  efforts  to  introduce  it  to  the  favorable  con- 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  205 

sideration  of  iron  makers,  and  that  is,  its  decidedly  cold- 
short properties.  The  Lake  Superior  ores  produce,  invariably, 
red-short  iron,  if  we  except  the  magnetic  ores  which  are 
sometimes  neutral.  The  Iron  Mountain  ore  neutralizes  the 
red-shortness  of  the  other  Lake  Superior  hematites,  and 
when  mixed  with  them,  makes  a  quality  of  iron  which  is 
highly  prized  and  the  most  useful. 

As  will  he  noticed,  the  mine  has  been  wrought  very  irreg- 
ularly, and  at  present  it  is  dormant. 

THE   WASHINGTON   MINE 

comprises  a  valuable  estate  of  1,000  acres  in  town  47,  range 
29.  The  company  was  organized  in  1864,  and  commenced 
mining  the  same  year,  the  first  shipments  being  made  in 
1865.  The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  product: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1865 4,782 

1866 15,150 

1867 25,440 

1868 35,757 

1869 58,462 

1870 79,762 

1871 48,725 

1872 38,381 

1873  .    38,014 

1874 28,390 

1875 : .  9,641 


Total 382,504 

The  company,  becoming  embarrassed  'financially,  suspended 
operations  in  the  spring  of  1875,  since  which  time  the  mine 
has  not  been  worked.  A  large  amount  of  money  was  ex- 
pended in  improvements,  the  driving  of  a  tunnel  into  and 
through  the  main  deposits,  and  the  mine  was  just  in  good 
shape  for  a  large  and  economic  production,  when  the  panic 
occurred,  and  the  company  found  it  impossible  to  continue 
mining  operations.  .  The  mine,  which  we  regard  as  one  of 
the  best  in  the  district,  is  for  sale  or  lease,  on  favorable  terms. 

THE  BESSEMER  MINE 

is  in   section  35,  Town  48,  Range  27,  on  the  south  shore  of 
Teal  Lake,  and  but  a  short  distance  from  the  City  of  Negau- 


206  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

nee.  The  land  upon  which  the  mine  is  situated  is  owned  by 
the  Teal  Lake  Iron  Company,  by  whom  it  was  leased  to  the 
Bessemer  Iron  Company.  Work  was  commenced  in  the  fall 
of  1875,  on  a  large  body  of  soft  hematite,  similar  in  appear- 
ance to  the  Jackson  hematite.  About  3000  tons  nave  been 
mined,  and  will  be  shipped  the  present  season.  The  princi- 
pal stockholders  are  Wm.  C.  McComber,  Alex.  Bengley  and 
Delon  E.  Patterson. 

THE   CAMBRIA   MINE 

adjoins  the  Bessemer  on  the  east,  and  is  also  a  part  of  the  es- 
tate of  the  Teal  Lake  Iron  Company.  It  was  leased  last  spring 
by  the  Cambria  Iron  Company,  in  which  J.  H.  McDonald  and 
R.  P.  Harriman  are  the  principal  shareholders,  the  property 
having  been  previously  partially  developed  by  Mr.  Harriman. 
The  indications  are  most  favorable  to  the  development  of  a 
good  mine,  the  ore  being,  apparently  of  excellent  quality,  and 
comprising  both  the  hard  and  soft  hematites.  There  was 
mined  and  sold  in  1874,  2,610  tons,  and  the  new  company 
has  now  several  thousand  tons  ready  for  shipment. 

THE  LAKE  ANGELINE  MINE 

is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  Lake  Angeline,  on  the  line  of 
the  Marquette,  Houghton  &  Ontonagon  railroad,  about 
seventeen  miles  west  of  Marquette.  It  is  the  property  of 
the  Pittsburgh  &  Lake  Angeline  Iron  company,  which  was 
incorporated  in  1865.  The  company  owns  1,376  acres  of 
land,  (originally  purchased  by  George  E.  Hall,  who  opened 
the  mine,)  and  formerly  worked  the  Edwards  mine  under 
lease. 

The  Lake  Angeline  mine  has  been  opened  on  a  stretch  of 
the  deposit  1,700  feet  in  length,  in  which  four  openings  are 
being  worked.  From  near  the  water's  edge,  along  which  the 
railway  track  extends,  the  hill  running  parallel  with  the 
shore  rises  rapidly  to  the  base  of  a  vertical  bluff  of  crystalline 
trap,  200  feet  in 'height.  Along  the  base  of  this  bluff  is  the 
ore  deposit.  Along  the  front  of  the  deposit,  near  the  sur- 
face, there  was  a  strip  of  mixed  ore  and  jasper,  but  this  was 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.          ,  207 

worked  out,  giving  place  to  a  much  better  and  more  uniform 
quality  of  ore. 

The  working  pits  are  four  in  number,  and  though  not 
designated  on  the  company's  maps  by  numbers,  for  the  sake 
of  convenience  we  will  refer  to  them  as  1,  2,  3  and  4,  com- 
mencing at  the  west  end.  No.  Ipit,  is  an  open  cut  one  hun- 
dred feet  in  length,  and  varying  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  in 
width.  The  present  work  is  being  done  on  a  level  thirty 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  lake;  the  ore  is  a  soft  red  hema- 
tite, of  a  good  quality.  The  extent  of  the  deposit  is  not 
known,  as  it  has  not  been  deemed  safe  to  approach  the  hang- 
ing wall  for  fear  of  seams  which  would  admit  the  water  from 
the  lake  and  flood  the  mine.  It  is  believed,  however,  that  in 
sinking  deeper  this  danger  will  be  overcome,  and  the  hang- 
ing wall  safely  reached  on  a  lower  level. 

Between  Nos.  1  and  2,  is  the  pump  shaft,  from  the  bottom 
of  which  drifts  for  drainage  extend  into  both  openings.  No.  2 
pit  is  six  hundred  feet  long,  the  main  level  being  about  forty 
feet  below  the  lake.  Another  level  forty  feet  deeper  gives  a 
working  face  of  forty  feet.  The  ore  is  raised  by  derricks, 
operated  by  steam  power. 

East  of  No.  2,  three  hundred  feet,  is  another  open  cut 
working  on  the  main  level,  with  stopes  of  thirty  feet.  The 
ore  is  raised  from  this  cut  on  a  skip-road,  operated  by  steam. 
Still  further  east  is  No.  4,  also  an  open  cut,  with  a  working 
face  of  thirty  feet.  The  ore  in  all  these  pits  is  of  the  red 
specular  variety,  and  of  good  quality. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  bluff  is  the  brown  hematite  mine, 
which  is  an  opening  40x150  feet,  and  which  yields  as  fine  a 
quality  of  hematite  as  can  be  found  in  the  region.  The  pit 
is  supplied  with  pumping  and  hoisting  machinery,  and  is 
most  favorably  situated  for  profitable  mining. 

The  product  of  the  Lake  Angeline  has  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1864 19,500 

1865 20,151 

1866 24,073 

1867 46,607 


MINERAL    RESOURCES 


1868 27,631 

1869 85,433 

1870 53,407 

1871 83.045 

1872 35,52 1 

1873 43,9*3 

1874 31,526 

1875 26,370 

Total 397,576 

The  company  employs  regularly  about  sixty  men.  Tiie 
officers  are:  President,  JOHN  OUTHWAITE;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  L.  E.  HOLDER;  General  Agent,  A.  KIDDER; 
Superintendent,  HARVEY  DIMOND. 

THE    CHAMPION"    MINE 

is  in  the  south  half  of  section  31,  town  48,  range  29.  The 
mine  was  opened  on  a  deposit  of  magnetic  and  slate  ore  of 
remarkable  extent  and  uniform  purity,  and  though  little 
was  done  previous  to  1868,  it  has  developed  into  one  of  the 
standard  mines  of  the  district.  The  first  opening  was  made 
in  1867,  though  very  little  was  done  except  in  the  way  of 
exploration  until  the  following  spring,  when  just  as  the  first 
shipments  began,  the  destruction  of  the  docks  at  Marquette 
caused  a  suspension  of  operations  till  October.  In  that  month 
the  first  shipments  were  made,  the  season  closing  with  a  total 
of  6,255  tons.  Since  then  the  shipments  have  been  as  follows : 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1868 6,255 

1869 19,458 

1870 73,161 

1871 67,588 

1872 68,405 

1873 72,782 

1874 46,769- 

1875 57,979 

Total 412,397 

At  the  inception  the  property  belonged  to  the  Marquette 
&  Ontonagon  Railroad  company,  the  land  upon  which  the 
mine  is  located -being  a  part  of  its  government  subsidy;  but 
in  1869,  the  Champion  Iron  company  was  organized  and 
purchased  the  mine. 
There  are  two  main  deposits  of  ore,  one  known  as  the 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  209 

north  and  the  other  as  the  south  deposit.  These  deposits 
are  lens-shaped,  lapping  each  other  so  that  the  hanging  wall 
of  the  south  deposit  runs  into  and  helps  to  form  the  foot 
wall  of  the  other.  There  are  three  working  shafts,  num- 
bered respectively  1,  2  and  3.  No.  1  shaft  is  in  the  north 
deposit;  No.  2  is  212  feet  west  on  the  same  deposit,  and  No. 
3  is  in  the  south  deposit  250  feet  west  of  No.  2.  These 
deposits  lap  each  other  about  midway  between  shafts  Nos.  2 
and  3,  the  north  deposit  here  making  a  bend  and  forming  a 
junction  with  the  other  near  No.  3  shaft.  Nos.  2  and  3 
shafts  are  down  to  the  fifth  level,  300  feet  from  the  surface, 
and  No.  1  to  the  fourth  level — 240  feet.  The  mining  system 
is  similar  to  that  adopted  at  the  Michigamme;  winzes  are 
sunk  on  either  side  of  each  shaft,  leaving  pillars  to  protect 
the  shafts  and  support  the  walls.  The  winzes  and  shafts  are 
then  connected  by  a  drift,  and  the  ore  mined  from  underhand 
stopes  of  60  feet.  There  is,  consequently,  no  drifting  except 
the  few  feet  necessary  to  connect  the  shafts  and  winzes. 

It  was  determined  in  the  beginning  to  adopt  the  under- 
ground system  of  mining,  but  after  a  few  years,  for  some 
reason,  the  roof  was  removed  from  a  part  of  the  workings. 
Now  it  has  been  determined  to  secure  the  mine  by  leaving 
twenty  feet  of  the  floor  of  the  third  level,  properly  arched, 
for  a  new  roof.  This  is  accordingly  being  done,  the  ore  on 
the  length  of  deposit  opened  having  all  been  mined  out  down 
to  that  level.  The  north  deposit  has  been  opened  over  a 
length  of  644  feet.  East  and  west  of  No.  1  shaft  there  are 
considerable  bodies  of  ore  remaining  above  the  fourth  level, 
as  also  east  and  west  of  No.  3.  In  No.  2,  there  is  very  little 
ore  remaining  above  the  fourth  level,  and  the  principal 
mining  work  is  being  done  on  the  fifth.  In  the  north  belt 
the  deposit  carries  a  width  of  from  twenty  to  thirty-five  feet 
on  the  fourth  level;  in  the  south  deposit,  which  has  been 
opened  over  a  length  of  370  feet,  the  breadth  of  ore  is  from 
forty-five  to  sixty  feet,  except  at  the  junction  of  the  two  de- 
posits, where  there  is  a  body  of  pure  ore  fully  one  hundred 
feet  wide.  About  170  feet  west  of  No.  3  shaft,  the  south  de- 


210  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

posit  pinches  out  entirely,  but  a  drift  through  a  narrow  wall 
of  rock  struck  another  body  of  ore  which  has  been  worked 
into  fifty  feet,  and  found  to  be  thirty-four  feet  wide  on  the 
fourth  level. 

About  one  thousand  feet  west  of  No.  3  shaft,  explorations 
have  brought  to  light  a  vein  or  deposit  of  very  pure  red 
specular  ore,  wholly  unlike  anything  found  in  the  other 
deposits.  This  deposit,  which  was  only  four  feet  on  the  sur- 
face, widened  out  to  thirteen  and  a  half  feet  in  going  down 
twelve  feet,  and  it  is  believed  will  prove  a  very  material 
addition  to  the  hitherto  known  value  of  the  mine. 

The  mine  affords  employment  to  about  two  hundred  men, 
mostly  practical  miners.  The  ore  is  all  hoisted  in  skips 
operated  by  drums,  the  engine  and  machinery  being  of 
sufficient  capacity  to  raise  1,000  tons  per  day  from  the 
lowest  level. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are: 

President,  JOSEPH  S.  FAT,  Boston;  Treasurer,  W.  P.  FAY, 
Boston;  Secretary,  WM.  E.  STONE,  Boston;  General  Agent, 
A.  KIDDEE,  Marquette;  Superintendent,  JAS.  PASCOE. 

THE   KEYSTONE  MINE 

is  in  section  32,  town  48,  range  29,  just  east  of  the  Cham- 
pion, and  is  owned  by  a  company  of  the  same  name,  which 
filed  its  articles  of  association  late  in  the  fall  of  1872.  Work 
was  commenced  in  November,  1872,  and  the  first  shipment 
of  ore  made  on  the  4th  of  June  following.  The  develop- 
ments since  made  show  a  deposit  of  ore  600  feet  in  length, 
the  width  of  which  is,  as  yet,  undetermined.  It  is  probably 
one  among  the  best  of  the  small  hard  ore  mines  in  the  dis- 
trict, the  ore  being  substantially  of  the  same  character  as 
that  of  the  Champion — magnetic  and  slate. 

The  company  met  with  a  good  many  discouragements  in 
the  beginning,  it  being  found  necessary  to  erect  a  consider- 
able number  of  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
miners,  involving  a  large  expenditure  in  addition  to  the 
actual  cost  of  opening  the  mine.  When  the  financial  crash 
came,  the  bottom  dropped  out  of  the  ore  market,  and  a  sus 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  211 

pension  of  operations  followed.  Work  was  resumed,  how- 
ever, late  in  the  summer  of  1875,  and  a  small  force  has  been 
kept  at  work  ever  since,  with  the  best  of  indications  for  a 
large  yield  whenever  the  state  of  the  ore  market  shall  war- 
rant active  mining  work. 

The  product  of  the  mine  has  been  as  follows: 

YEAB.  GROSS  TONS. 

1873 10/26 

1874 5.227 

1875 3,346 


Total 18,999 

The  officers  of  the  company  are: 

President,  GEO.  C.  REIS,  Newcastle,  Pa.;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  ROBERT  McCuRDY,  Youngstown,  Ohio;  General 
Agent,  C.  M.  WHEELER,  Negaunee,  Mich. 

THE   BUCKEYE 

Iron  Company  was  organized  in  1873,  with  a  view  to  opera- 
tions on  the  south  half  of  section  36,  town  48,  range  30, 
which  adjoins  the  Champion  half  section,  on  the  west.  Best 
judges  of  the  geology  of  the  situation  decide  that  the  Buck- 
eye Company  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  they  will 
sooner  or  later  develop  a  good  mine,  but  as  yet  their  labor 
has  not  been  crowned  with  success,  present  or  prospective. 
That  they  are  on  the  Champion  range,  there  is  not  a  doubt, 
but  to  strike  the  range  at  exactly  the  right  point  is  what  the 
Buckeye  people  tried  to  do  during  the  summer  of  1873. 
A  little  more  patience,  and  a  little  more  expenditure  of 
money  will,  more  than  likely,  place  them  just  where  they 
want  to  be  placed — ON  THE  RANGE — for  the  doubt  about  a 
good  deposit  of  ore  on  this  property  is  greatly  preponderated 
by  the  facts  in  geology,  which  makes  faith.  No  work  has  been 
done  on  the  property  since  the  fall  of  1873,  though  the  develop- 
ments made  by  the  Champion  Company  near  the  line,  would 
appear  to  render  the  discovery  of  the  same  belt  an  easy  task 


MINERAL    RESOURCES 


BLAST-FURNACES. 


As  mignt  readily  be  inferred,  the  most  important  manufao 
turing  interest  oil  Lake  Superior  is  the  smelting  of  iron 
ore  in  the  blast  furnace.  The  attempt  to  establish  iron 
manufactures  on  Lake  Superior  was  made  under  many  disad- 
vantages, and  at  a  time  when,  if  successful,  these  engaged  in 
the  enterprise  could  not  hope  for  large  returns  on  the  amount 
of  capital  and  labor  invested.  It  was  made,  in  fact,  before 
anything  had  been  done  toward  the  develoqment  of  the  mines, 
and  when  it  would  have  been  next  to  impossible  to  get  the 
iron  to  market,  except  at  an  immense  expense  for  transport- 
ation. And,  in  fact,  the  first  effort  at  iron  making  on  these 
shores  succeeded  only  in  so  far  that  it  served  to  show  the 
sterling  qualities  of  the  ores,  and  the  readiness  with  which 
they  could  be  converted  into  blooms  or  pig  metal. 

In  the  summer  or  fall  of  1846,  one  year  after  the  discovery 
of  the  Jackson  Mountain  by  Mr.  Everett  and  his  party,  the 
Jackson  Company  undertook  the  erection  of  a  forge  on  the 
Carp  river,  about  three  miles  east  of  Negaunee.  The  building 
of  the  forge  was  intrusted  to  Wm.  McNair,  who  was  sent 
here  as  agent  for  the  company.  He  had  never  seen  a  forge, 
and  did  not  succeed  in  accomplishing  anything  toward  its 
erection  till  the  following  year.  In  July  1847,  Ariel  N. 
Barney  and  his  brother-in-law,  Aaron  K.  Olds,  arrived  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Carp,  having  been  sent  up  by  the  company. 
They  were  both  practical  iron  makers,  and  expected  to  find 
the  forge  nearly  ready  for  work.  In  this  they  were  disap- 
pointed, as  nothing  had  been  done  save  that  a  few  timbers 
had  been  hauled  upon  the  ground;  they  soon  discovered  that 
McNair  knew  absolutely  nothing  about  the  business  he  had 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  213 

undertaken,  and  it  was  not  long  until  Mr.  Barney  was  em- 
powered to  go  on  and  build  the  forge,  and  to  him  really 
belongs  the  credit  of  having  built  and  put  into  operation  the 
first  iron  manufacturing  establishment  on  Lake  Superior. 

The  first  bloom  was  made  on  the  10th  day  of  February, 
184:8,  by  Mr.  Olds,  and  was  hammered  into  bar  iron  by  Mr. 
Barney.  This  is  the  correct  date  of  the  first  manufacture  of 
iron  on  Lake  Superior. 

In  May,  of  the  same  year,  Messrs.  Barney,  Olds,  and  one  or 
two  others,  started  in  a  small  boat  for  the  Sault,  taking  with 
them  about  300  fcs.  of  bar  iron,  among  it  the  first  bar  made 
at  the  forge.  This  iron  was  taken  to  Jackson,  and  there 
exhibited  as  a  specimen  of  what  could  be  done  on  Lake 
Superior. 

The  forge  continued  in  ^operation  till  sometime  in  1852, 
when  it  was  abandoned.  It  never  paid  the  interest  on 
the  money  invested,  but,  having  served  the  purpose  of  a 
thorough  test  of  the  Jackson  ore,  the  company  very  wisely 
concluded  to  abandon  it,  and  devote  the  whole  of  their  capi- 
tal and  energy  to  the  development  of  their  mines. 

Another  forge  was  built  at  Marque tte,  just  south  of 
the  shore  end  of  the  Cleveland  dock,  by  a  Worcester  (Mass.) 
company,  in  1849,  under  the  direction  and  superintendence  of 
A.  E.  Harlow,  Esq.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1853,  and 
was  never  rebuilt.  Two  other  forges  were  subsequently 
built  at  Forestville.and  Collinsville. 

The  first  pig  iron  from  Lake  Superior  ore  was  made  by  S. 
R.  Gay,  at  the  Collins  forge.  It  was  made  as  an  experiment, 
in  the  forge  chimney,  which  had  been  converted  into  a  tem- 
porary stack.  The  result  confirmed  Mr.  Gay  in  his  determi- 
nation to  build  a  blast  furnace,  which  he  afterwards  did. 

There  are  now  in  the  district  twenty-one  blast  furnaces, 
and  one  rolling  mill.  On  another  page  will  be  found  a  table, 
exhibiting  the  name  and  condition  of  these  furnaces,  together 
with  their  location,  name  of  general  agents,  and  their  post  - 
office  address. 


214 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


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OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  215 

These  are  all  charcoal  furnaces,  except  the  Grace  (anthracite) 
and  Marquette  &  Pacific  (bituminous).  They  are  all  hot  blast 
and  propelled  by  steam,  except  the  Collins,  Bancroft  and 
Deer  Lake,  which  have  water  power.  The  last  named,  to- 
gether with  the  Morgan,  Greenwood  and  Champion,  have 
banks  level  with  the  furnace  mouth — the  others  hoist  their 
stock.  The  blast  is  heated  in  ovens,  containing  from  18  to 
30  ox  bow  pipes,  to  from  450  °  to  650  °  ,  averaging  above  the 
melting  of  lead.  The  air  at  this  temperature  is  forced  into 
the  furnace  through  two  three  or  four  inch  tuyeres,  under 
pressure  of  from  1-J-  to  21  fbs.  per  square  inch.  The  furnace 
linings  are  40  feet  high,  91  feet  at  bosh,  or  greatest  diameter 
which  is  about  13  feet  bottom.  The  hearth  is  about  one- 
third  the  greatest  diameter,  and  the  mouth  about  one-half. 
The  boshes  are  very  steep,  being  one  run  to  from  three  to 
four  rise.  All  these  dimensions  vary  at  different  furnaces. 

The  prevailing  charcoal  wood,  and  that  which  furnishes 
four-fifths  of  the  fuel  of  this  district,  is  the  hard  maple — next, 
yellow  birch.  At  present  one- third  of  the  furnaces  are  using 
considerable  hemlock,  pine,  and  other  soft  woods,  which  are 
far  less  valuable  for  coal.  The  coal  consumed  per  ton  of  iron 
varies  widely,  depending  on  the  nature  of  the  fuel  and  ore; 
it  may  be  set  down  at  110  bushels  for  best  stock  and  work, 
and  140  bushels  for  inferior  stock.  This  at  10  cents  per 
bushel,  which  may  be  called  the  average  for  1875,  gives  an 
average  of  $12.00  for  fuel,  or  one-half  the  cost  of  the  iron. 
The  ore  would  average  one-fourth  the  cost,  or  $6.50.  The 
largest  item  of  the  remaining  fourth  would  be  furnace  labor 
and  superintendence — producing  a  total  of  about  $24  as  the 
cost  of  iron  at  the  furnace.  The  freight,  commission,  and 
interest  account  will  increase  the  cost  of  the  iron  to,  perhaps, 
not  less  than  $30,  sold. 

THE  PIOKEEE, 

as  its  name  implies,  was  the  first  furnace  built  in  the  district. 
Both  stacks  were  built  under  contract,  by  S.  R.  Gay,  for  the 
Pioneer  Iron  Company,  by  whom  it  was  owned  and  operated 
until  the  spring  of  1866,  when  it  was  leased  to  the  Iron  Cliffs 


216  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

Company.  The  property  thus  leased  consisted  of  the  two 
furnace  stacks,  about  4,000  acres  of  land,  including  a  part  of 
the  village  plat  of  Negaunee,  and  an  ore  lease  from  the  Jack- 
son Company.  Subsequently,  the  whole  property  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Iron  Cliffs  Company. 

The  furnace  has  two  stacks — Nos.  1  and  2.  No.  1  was 
first  started  in  April,  1858,  and  made,  in  three  blasts,  6,688, 
tons  of  iron,  blowing  out  on  January  20th,  1860.  No.  2  was 
blown  in  May  20,  1859,  and  continued  in  successful  operation 
until  destroyed  by  fire  in  August,  1861.  It  was  immediately 
re-built,  and  again  put  in  operation  January  15th,  1865, 
blowing  out  on  the  2d  of  June  of  the  same  year,  after  having 
made  13,574  tons,  in  thirteen  blasts. 

The  total  amount  of  iron  made  by  the  Pioneer  since  first 
blown  in  is  stated  as  follows: 

YEAH.  GROSS  TONS  * 

1870  and  previous 49,419 

1871 8,193 

1872 6.985 

1873 7,098 

1874 1  ]  .080 

1875 . .  17  006 


Total 100,381 

THE   CLIFFS   FURNACE 

is  also  the  property  of  the  Iron  Cliffs  Company.  It  is  loca- 
ted in  Tilden  township,  about  six  miles  from  Negaunee,  and 
was  completed  and  put  in  blast  in  the  early  part  of  1871. 
Since  then  it  has  turned  out  6,830  tons,  having  been  in  blast 
onl}T  a  part  of  the  time  during  the  past  two  years. 

THE   NORTHERN   IRON"   COMPANY'S 

furnace  at  Harvey,  three  miles  below  Marquette,  on  the  lake 
shore,  was  completed  in  1860.  The  following  table  exhibits 
the  product  each  year  since  the  furnace  went  into  blast: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TOXS. 

1860 600 

1861 400 

1862 2,060 

1863 1,897 

1864 3,006 

*2,268  pounds;  2,249  pounds  constitute  one  gross  ton  of  iron  ore. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  217 

1865 3,046 

1806 2,687 

1867 1,363 


Total 15,059 

This  furnace  has  not  been  in  blast  since  1867.  In  1873  the 
furnace  was  remodeled,  and  changed  into  a  bituminous  stack, 
a  large  amount  of  fuel  was  secured,  but  for  some  reason,  best 
known  to  the  owners,  was  not  blown  in. 

THE   COLLINS   FURNACE 

was  built  originally  by  S.  R.  Gay,  Esq.,  in  1858,  and  made 
her  first  iron  on  the  13th  day  of  December,  in  that  year. 
Charles  Lovelace,  Esq.,  now  superintendent  of  the  Fox 
River  furnaces,  at  Depere,  Wis.,  was  the  iron  maker  until 
1863,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Patrick  Dundon,  now  with 
Mr.  L.  at  Depere.  During  the  first  four  or  five  years  the 
yield  of  pig  iron  was  about  eight  tons  a  day,  and  an  old 
paper  before  us  notes,  as  a  marked  improvement,  the  fact  that 
on  the  17th  of  June,  1863,  the  furnace  "  turned  out  10  tons 
of  handsome  metal.'"  The  following  table  shows  the  product 
of  the  Collins  for  the  fifteen  years  she  has  been  in  operation: 

YEAR.  GROSS   TONS. 

1859 2,575 

1860 1,950 

1861 2,060 

1862 2,207 

1863 1,141 

1864 800 

1865 1,709 

1866 4,114 

1867 4,052 

1868 4,268 

1869 3,416 

1870 4,100 

1871 4,174 

1872 3,431 

1873 2,000 

Total 41,997 

The  furnace  was  blown  out  and  abandoned  in  the  fall  of 
1873,  having  exhausted  her  fuel  supply. 

THE  MICHIGAN   FURNACE, 

located  at  Clarksburgh,  on  the  line  of  the  M.,  H.  &  0.  R.  R., 


218  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

twenty-six  miles  west  of  Marquette,  was  built  by  the  Michi- 
gan Iron  Company,  in  1866,  and  went  into  blast  February 
10th,  1867.  She  has  made  iron  as  follows: 

TEAK.  GROSS  TONS. 

1867 3,930 

1868 4,383 

1869 5,713 

1870 4,858 

1871 4,460 

1872 4,001 

1873 4,467 

1874 , 6,621 

1875 3,098 

Total...' 41,531 

THE    GREENWOOD    FURHACE 

was  erected  by  the  M.  &  0.  R.  R.  Company,  and  made  her 
first  iron  in  June,  1865.  She  had  a  most  successful  run  till 
near  the  close  of  1867,  when,  after  a  very  large  years' 
work,  the  stack  was  found  to  be  defective,  and  had  to  be  taken 
down  and  re-built.  This  was  accomplished  the  next  sum- 
mer, but  before  again  going  into  blast  the  owners  sold  the 
property  to  the  Michigan  Iron  Company,  who  took  formal 
possession  about  the  middle  of  August,  1868. 

The  product  of  the  Greenwood  for  each  year  is  quoted  as 
follows: 

YEAR.  GBOSS  TONS. 

1865 1,948 

1866 3,505 

1867 4,959 

1868 1,806 

1869 4,480 

1870 3  992 

1871 4.450 

1872 4,2 12 

1873 4,416 

1874 4.839 

1875 1,595 

Total 40,202 

The  Company  being  unable  to  meet  its  liabilities  was,  in 
1875,  thrown  into  bankruptcy,  and  both  its  furnaces,  together 
with  its  real  and  personal  estate,  passed  into  the  hands  of  an 
assignee. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  219 

THE  MORGAN    FURNACE, 

built  and  owned  by  the  Morgan  Iron  Company,  went  into 
blast  November  27th,  1863,  making  in  the  first  year  337  tons 
of  iron.  The  Morgan  has  been,  perhaps,  the  most  successful 
enterprise  of  the  kind  in  the  district,  having  made,  in  the 
first  ten  months,  a  clear  net  profit  of  220  per  cent,  thus  en- 
abling the  company  to  pay  back  all  the  original  outlay  for 
land  and  machinery,  leaving  a  dividend  of  100  per  cent,  to  be 
divided  among  the  stockholders.  The  Morgan  is  situated  on 
the  line  of  the  M.,  H.  £  0.  R.  R.,  eight  miles  west  of  Marquette. 
It  was  built  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  C.  Don- 
kersly,  Esq.,  one  of  our  most  practical  and  efficient  iron  mas- 
ters, who  now  operates  the  furnace  under  a  lease  from  the 
company. 
The  product  of  the  Morgan  has  been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS   TONS. 

1863 337 

1864 4,023 

1865 3,489 

1866 3,749 

1867 '. 5,057 

1868 4,203 

1870 5,952 

1871 4,792 

1872 4,356 

1873 6,324 

1874 5,973 

1875 . 5,377 


Total 53,632 

In  1868-'9  the  fuel  immediately  adjacent  to  the  furnace  was 
exhausted,  and  a  tram-road  was  built  a  distance  of  nine 
miles  to  lands  owned  by  the  company,  new  kilns  were  built 
and  a  steady  supply  of  fuel  secured. 

THE    BANCROFT  FURNACE, 

now  owned  by  the  Bancroft  Iron  Company,  is  situated  on 
Dead  River,  about  four  miles  from  Marquette,  and  was  built 
in  1860  by  S.  R.  Gay,  Esq.  The  first  account  we  have  of  it 
is  in  1861,  in  which  year  the  shipments  were  reported  at  2,430 
tons.  We  are  able  to  give  a  statement  of  the  product  of  the 
furnace  for  every  year  except  1864-'5,  of  which  the  records 


220  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

were  destroyed  in  the  fire  of  1868.     The  following  is  the 
table  estimating  the  years  referred  to: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1861 2,430 

1862 2,802 

1863 2,626 

1864  (estimated) 3,000 

1865  (estimated) 2,700 

1866 , .  2,451 

1867 : 3,245 

1868 3,800 

1869 3,407 

1870 3,710 

1871 3,850 

1872 4,250 

1873 4,100 

1874 3,688 

1875 5,277 


Total 51,336 

THE  CHAMPION    FURNACE, 

now  one  of  the  things  of  the  past,  was  located  near  the 
east  end  of  Lake  Michigan! me,  and  was  built  by  the  Morgan 
Iron  Company  in  1867.  She  made  in  her  first  run  of  ten 
months  4,282  tons.  The  product  of  this  furnace  is  given  as 
follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1868 4,282 

1869 5,560 

1870 5,576 

1871 5,094 

1872 5  006 

1873 3,949 

1874 1,581 


Total 31,048 

The  furnace  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  summer  of  1874, 
and  will  probably  never  be  rebuilt. 

DEER   LAKE  FURNACE. 

In  the  summer  of  1867,  a  company  was  organized  at  Nor- 
wich, Connecticut,  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  furnace  at 
Deer  Lake,  and  Messrs.  E.  C.  Hungerford  and  John  B.  Ward, 
were  sent  out  to  take  charge  of  the  work  of  construction. 
The  company .  had  previously  secured  a  most  valuable  tract 
of  contiguous  hard  wood  lands,  including  the  present  site  of 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR 


the  furnace.  The  first  desideratum  was  to  secure  an  abun- 
dance of  fuel  with  a  sufficient  water  power  that  could  be 
utilized  at  the  smallest  possible  expense,  and  this  the  com- 
pany found  in  the  purchase  of  the  Deer  Lake  tract.  The 
Carp,  which  at  that  point  is  a  stream  of  considerable  volume, 
has  a  perpendicular  fall  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet,  and  fur- 
nishes a  never  failing  power,  which  was  utilized  at  a  cost 
comparatively  insignificant.  It  was  decided  to  locate  the 
furnace  immediately  at  the  foot  of  the  falls,  and  work  was 
accordingly  commenced  about  the  first  of  September,  1867. 
The  stones  for  the  stack  were  quarried  so  near  its  base  that  a 
derrick  was  all  the  appliance  necessarily  used  in  transferring 
them  from  the  quarry  to  their  places  in  the  wall.  Though 
well  and  substantially  built,  it  was,  perhaps,  the  most  cheaply 
constructed  of  any  furnace  in  the  district.  The  stack,  as 
originally  built,  was  38  feet  high,  with  7  feet  diameter  of 
boshes.  It  was  first  blown  in  about  the  first  of  September, 
1868.  In  the  summer  of  1872  the  iron'  broke  out  through 

O 

the  arch  under  the  tuyere,  setting  fire  to  the  buildings,  which 
were  totally  consumed,  leaving  nothing  but  the  stack  and 
hot  blast  oven  standing.  With  characteristic  energy,  Mr.  C. 
H.  Hall,  then  the  managing  agent,  commenced  clearing 
away  the  debris  before  the  flames  had  ceased  to  act  upon  the 
larger  timbers,  and  having  succeeded  in  drawing  the  charge 
without  permitting  a  salamander,  he  had  the  buildings  re- 
constructed and  the  furnace  again  at  work  before  the  expira- 
tion of  five  weeks.  Subsequently  the  stack  was  raised  to  a 
height  of  47  feet,  and  the  diameter  of  the  boshes  increased 
to  8  feet.  As  it  now  stands,  it  is  what  might  be  termed  a 
hermaphrodite  stack,  the  lower  half  or  two-thirds  being  of 
stone,  and  the  upper  half  or  one-third  an  iron  shell.  It  has 
a  closed  top,  with  bell  and  hopper. 

In  1873,  a  second  stack  was  built,  which  went  into  blast 
February  the  1st,  1874,  and  continued  blowing  until  the  1st 
of  April  last.  This  stack  is  9x47  feet,  an  iron  shell,  and 
while  in  blast  did  excellent  work,  making  in  a  run  of  four- 
teen months,  on  one  hearth,  7,863  tons  of  iron,  of  which 


222  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

only  311  tons  were  high  grade,  and  all  of  which  was  sold  to 
the  North  Chicago  rolling  mill  Co.,  for  Bessemer  purposes. 
The  blowing  cylinders  which  furnish  the  blast  for  both 
stacks  are  two  in  number,  32x60  inches,  with  five  feet  stroke. 
The  crusher  and  hoist  are  run  by  power  transmitted  by  com- 
mon manilla  ropes  over  shieve  pulleys. 

The  landed  estate  of  the  company  comprises  a  solid,  compact 
tract  of  8,000  acres,  upon  which  there  is  a  large  amount  of 
valuable  pine,  in  addition  to  the  hard  wood.  So  far,  the  con- 
sumption of  pine  has  been  confined  to  the  lands  cut  over  for 
furnace  purposes,  the  u  pinery "  not  having  been  reached. 

A  wooden  tram-road  from  the  furnace  to  Ishpeming,  with 
T  rail  on  the  grades,  furnishes  cheap  transportation  of  ore 
to  the  furnace,  and  for  the  pig  metal  to  the  railway  depot. 
This  tram-road  is  about  one  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  and 
most  admirably  serves  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  intended. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  product: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TOKS. 

1869-'70 5,524 

1871 2  809 

1872 2,730 

1873 3,447 

1874 6,524 

1875 4,615 


Total 25,130 

The  furnace  "  location  "  consists  of  about  50  buildings  of 
all  kinds,  the  dwellings  being  particularly  neat  and  comfort- 
able looking.  E.  R.  Hall,  the  Company's  agent,  though  the 
youngest  furnace  manager  in  the  district,  has  proved  himself 
one  of  the  most  competent. 

THE  FAYETTE    FURNACE 

is  situated  on  the  east  shore  of  Big  Bay  de  Noc,  about  25 
miles  east  of  Escanaba,  in  the  midst  of  an  immense  forest  of 
hard  wood,  the  furnace  lands  consisting  of  16,000  acres.  It  is 
owned  by  the  Jackson  Iron  Company,  and  runs  exclusively 
on  ore  from  the  Company's  mine  at  Negar.nee. 

The  construction  of  this  furnace  was  commenced  in  May, 
1867,  under  the  direction  and  management  of  J.  H.  Harris, 
Esq.,  and  the  first  iron  was  made  on  Christmas  day  of  the 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  223 

same  year.  The  furnace  is  most  eligibly  located  on  a  small 
bay  named,  by  the  early  explorers,  Snail  Shell  Harbor.  Aside 
from  being  an  excellent  harbor,  it  is  not  far  out  of  the  way 
of  vessels  plying  in  the  ore  trade  from  Escanaba  to  lower 
lake  ports,  and  possesses  the  best  advantages  for  receiving 
the  ore  and  shipping  the  iron  after  it  is  smelted. 

The  furnace  commenced  operations  with  a  single  stack,  but 
a  second  one,  known  as  "No  2,"  was  completed  and  put  into 
operation  previous  to  1870.  It  was  the  original  design  of 
the  company  to  build  two  stacks,  and  with  this  view  the 
necessary  machinery  was  put  in  in  the  beginning. 

The  following  are  the  figures  showing  the  product  since 
the  furnace  went  into  blast. 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1868 4,546 

1869 4,470 

1870 6,450 

1871 8,696 

1872 10,080 

1873 10,696 

1874 11,079 

1875 14,075 

Total ' . .  70,092 

THE    MUNISmG    FUKNACE 

was  built  by  the  old  Schoolcroft  Iron  Company,  making  her 
first  iron  on  the  28th  of  June,  1868.  She  was  run  spasmod- 
ically by  the  original  owners  till  some  time  in  1870,  when  the 
company  became  an  involuntary  bankrupt,  and  the  furnace, 
together  with  an  estate  of  over  40,000  acres  of  choice  timber 
lands,  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Munising  Iron  Company, 
a  new  corporation.  She  was  put  in  blast  by  the  present  own- 
ers, in  June,  1873,  but  her  operations  have  been  irregular, 
though  she  has  accomplished  good  work  while  in  blast.  Her 
product  since  built  is  given  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1868 1,735 

1869 3,013 

1870 2,809 

1872 2,500 

1873 2,237 

1874 6  092 

1875 4,239 

Total 22,625 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


No.  2  STACK,  BAY  FURNACE,  AUGUST,  1875. 


00 

d 

2 

3 

Product  of   Iron. 

bfl 

£& 

o 

o 

Gross  Tons. 

0 

"3  rt 

o  £ 

"oS  * 

"eS  aa 

TOTAL. 

1 

ft 

jgg 

"o'"' 
EH 

P 

No.  1. 

No.  2. 

No.  3. 

1.. 

117 

1,100 

128,700 

3,510 

35 

35 

2.. 

118 

1,100 

129,800 

3,540 

35% 

35% 

3.. 

116 

1,100 

127,600 

3,480 

33% 

4.. 

116 

1,100 

127,600 

3,480 

2634 

'8J4 

34^4 

5.. 

116 

1,100 

127,600 

3,480 

35 

\ 

35 

6.. 

109 

1,100 

119,900 

3,270 

15% 

17/4 

33 

7.. 

110 

1,100 

121,000 

3,300 

31 

... 

31 

8.. 

118 

1,150 

135,700 

3,540 

35 

35 

9.. 

118 

1.150 

135,700 

3,540 

35% 

35% 

10.. 

118 

1,100 

129,800 

3,540 

24^ 

ii" 

35^2 

11.. 

115 

1,150 

132,250 

3,450 

24 

11/4 

35  J4 

12.. 

113 

1,100 

124,300 

3,390 

23i/2 

8 

81  H 

13.. 

118 

1,100 

129,800 

3,540 

25% 

9 

34% 

14.. 

117 

1,100 

128,700 

3,510 

22i/2 

9% 

3214 

15.. 

115 

1,100 

126,500 

3,450 

32k 

32*4 

16.. 

118 

1,100 

129,800 

3,540 

26 

g 

32' 

17.. 

124 

1,050 

130,200 

3,720 

31 

4/2 

'.  '.'. 

351/2 

18.. 

126 

1,100 

138,600 

3.780 

37 

37 

19.. 

132 

1,100 

145,200 

3,960 

38 

38 

20.. 

134 

1,100 

147,400 

4.020 

411/2 

41/4 

21.. 

134 

1,100 

147,400 

4,020 

29 

"9" 

'2  " 

40 

22.. 

130 

1,100 

143,000 

3,900 

22 

16*4 

2}£ 

40/2 

23.. 

130 

1,100 

143,000 

3,900 

24/4 

13i4 

! 

37 

24.. 

129 

1.100 

141,900 

3,870 

10  }4 

24/4 

'41/2 

39 

25.. 

127 

1,100 

189,700 

3,810 

40 

40 

26.. 

124 

1,100 

136,400 

3,720 

38  Yz 

38  Vz 

27.. 

125 

1.000 

125,000 

3,750 

27 

'Si/2 

351/2 

28.. 

126 

1.000 

126,000 

3,780 

21% 

13% 

35i/2 

29.. 

127 

1.000 

127.000 

3.810 

36 

36 

30.. 

127 

1,100 

139.700 

3,810 

29% 

6% 

8614 

31.. 

123 

1,100 

13o,300 

3,690 

BH 

36 

1    3770 

33,900 

4,120,550 

113.100 

915V4 

13514 

8% 

1,10914 

Average  yield  ore 60.31 

Bushels  of  coal  per  ton  of  iron 101 . 98 

Average  make  per  day 35.78 

Proportion  of  ore  used — 64  per  cent,  specular  and  36  per  cent.  McComber  hema- 
tite. 


THE  BAY  FUB^ACE 


is  situated  on  the  main  shore  opposite  Grand  Island,  six  miles 
west  of  the  Munising,  and  was  first  put  into  blast  in  the 
spring  of  1870.  A  second  stack  was  built  in  1872,  and  blown 
in  in  December  of  that  year.  These  stacks  worked  very  un- 
satisfactorily until  the  summer  of  1873,  when  the  company 
secured  the  services  of  Maj.  H.  S.  Pickards  as  superintendent, 
who  has  since  achieved  for  himself  a  national  reputation  as 
an  iron  maker.  What  the  Bay  has  accomplished  is  shown  in 
the  following  figures: 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1870 3,498 

1871 3,597 

1872 4,900 

1873 8.760 

1874 8,359 

1875 9,223 


Total 38,337 

It  is  proper  to  add  that  the  product  during  the  last  two 
years  was  the  work  of  only  one  stack  (No.  2.),  the  state  of  the 
market  not  warranting  the  company  in  keeping  both  stacks 
in  blast.  The  table  on  the  foregoing  page  is  a  statement 
of  work  done  by  this  stack  in  the  month  of  August,  1875. 

The  stack  is  45  feet  high  and  9^-  feet  diameter  of  boshes. 
On  the  last  blast,  which  commenced  May  25th,  1875,  and  con- 
tinued till  April  8th,  1876,  when  the  furnace  was  banked  for 
want  of  ore,  the  following  official  report  is  given: 

Blast  of  No.  2  stack  commenced  May  25,  1875. 

Furnace  banked  for  want  of  or^  April  8th,  1876. 

Number  of  days  stopped,  4. 

Total  number  of  days  run,  316. 

Coal  consumed,  1,045,440  bushels,  %  hemlock  and  %  hard  wood. 

Tons  of  ore  used,  15,847. 

Gross  tons  of  iron  made,  9,695. 

GRADE  OF  IRON  MADE.  TONS. 

No.  1 • 7,666^ 

No.  2 1,796 

No.  3 182 

No.  4 36% 

No.  5 14 

Bushels  of  ore  per  ton  of  iron,  107.83. 

Average  yield  of  ore,  61.18  per  cent. 

Average  make  per  day,  30.67  tons. 

THE  MARQUETTE  AND  PACIFIC  ROLLING  MILL 

commenced  operation  on  the  1st  of  September,  1868.  The 
company  under  whose  auspices  this  important  addition  to  the 
manufacturing  interest  of  Marquette  was  made,  was  organized 
under  the  general  law  of  the  State,  in  October,  1866,  with  a 
nominal  capital  of  $500,000.  The  scheme  contemplated  the 
erection  of  a  blast  furnace  with  a  capacity  of  40  tons  per  day, 
and  a  rolling  mill  capable  of  producing  from  3,000  to  5,000 
tons  of  merchant  iron  per  annum. 


228  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

the  waste  chimney  is  carried  up  twelve  feet  above  the  top. 
The  gas  exit  is  an  iron  jacket  lined  with  fire  brick,  and  hav- 
ing an  internal  diameter  of  six  feet.  Its  base  rests  upon  a 
reservoir  from  which  flues  lead  off  to  the  hot  blasts  and  to 
the  boilers,  the  flues  being  provided  with  valves  to  regulate 
the  supply  of  gas,  arjd  registers  to  regulate  the  supply  of  air. 
In  this  particular  the  appliances  of  the  furnace  are  very  com- 
plete to  secure  the  most  perfect  combustion. 

The  hot  blast  is  put  up  in  two  compartments,  each  com- 
partment provided  with  a  combustion  chamber  twenty-one 
feet  long  by  five  feet  wide,  and  six  feet  and  six  inches  high, 
over  which  are  laid  in  open  space,  with  an  arched  wall  and 
flame  flues  intervening,  720  feet  of  pipe  of  eight  inches  in- 
ternal diameter  and  one  and  a  half  inches  thick.  The  prem- 
ises occupied  by  the  stack  and  hot  blast  and  as  a  casting  house, 
are  50  by  130  feet,  the  casting  floor  being  50  by  68  feet.  The 
boilers  are  located  parallel  with  the  casting  house.  They 
are  three  in  number,  each  26  feet  long  by  42  inches  in  diame- 
ter, with  two  16-inch  return  flues.  They  are  placed  in  and 
surrounded  by  mason  work,  but  the  entire  heating  surface  is 
exposed  in  one  common  chamber.  Grate  bars  are  provided 
for  the  temporary  use  of  wood  or  coal,  but  the  space  in  the 
rear  of  the  bridge  wall  is  left  unfilled,  thus  affording  all  the 
space  possible  for  the  combustion  of  gas.  The  stack  of  the 
boiler  furnace  is  100  feet  6  inches  high — so  well  elevated  a& 
to  be  above  the  influence  of  any  wind  that  may  surge  over  the 
bluff  in  the  rear  of  the  furnace.  Heaters  are  provided,  with 
180  feet  of  2-inch  pipe,  and  the  water  is  passed  into  the  boil- 
ers at  almost  a  steam  temperature. 

Blast  is  furnished  by  a  direct  acting  vertical  blowing  en- 
gine, with  a  blowing  cylinder  7  feet  in  diameter  and  4j-  feet 
stroke,  and  a  steam  cylinder  34  inches  in  diameter  and  4^ 
feet  stroke.  It  is  a  massive  yet  compact  and  powerful  piece 
of  machinery.  In  the  same  apartment  is  the  blast  receiver, 
the  water  feeding  tank,  the  heater  and  two  steam  pumps — 
one  of  the  latter  to  serve  the  boilers  and  the  other  to  serve 
the  coolers  around  the  tuyeres,  but  both  fitted  so  as  to  be  in- 


• 
OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  229 


terchangeable  and  one  to  do  the  work  of  the  other,  or  work 
together  or  separately. 

The  stock  house  is  76x100  feet,  with  posts  28  feet  high.  A 
railway  trestle  passes  through  it,  with  a  turn  table,  from  the 
bank  in  the  rear  of  the  furnace,  where  the  ore  is  brought  in 
from  the  M.,  H.  &  0,  railroad.  The  fuel  is  received  on  the 
dock  in  front  of  the  furnace  and  moved  to  the  stock  house  in 
carts. 

There  are  two  calcining  kilns  each  20  tons  capacity,  in 
the  rear  of  the  stock  house,  where  their  contents  are  readily 
accessible  with  the  other  stock  used.  Space  has  been  left  for 
two  others,  should  they  be  required. 

The  buildings,  except  the  stock  house,  are  constructed  of 
Marquette  sandstone  and  covered  with  iron  roofing.  The 
stock  house  is  a  wood  and  iron  frame  with  iron  roofing. 

The  furnace  went  into  blast  under  the  most  cheering 
auspices,  but  was  obliged  to  blow  out  owing  to  the  bad  qual- 
ity of  the  fire  brick,  or  a  faulty  construction  of  the  boshes.  A 
new  lining  was  put  in  and  a  most  successful  run  followed, 
the  furnace  making  from  40  to  45  tons  per  day,  running  ex- 
clusively on  second-class  ores  from  the  Lake  Superior  Mine. 
The  furnace  made  while  in  operation,  iron  as  follows : 

YEAR.  GROSS  TONS. 

1873 7,800 

1874 3,546 

Total 11,346 

The  Grace  went  out  of  blast  early  in  the  season  of  1874, 
and  has  not  since  blown  in. 

THE  ESCANABA  FURNACE 

is  the  largest  charcoal  "furnace  in  the  district.  It  is  situated 
on  a  forty  acre  plant  on  the  bay  shore,  about  one  mile  and  a 
half  north  of  Escanaba.  It  was  built  by  the  Escanaba  Fur- 
nace Company,  of  which  Joseph  Kirkpatrick,  Andrew  Klo- 
man,  Wm.  Bagaley,  and  other  prominent  Pittsburgh  men, 
were  the  corporators.  Work  was  commenced  on  the  buildings 
early  in  the  spring  of  1872,  and  the  furnace  was  blown  in  the 
following  spring.  The  stack  is  an  iron  shell,  lined  with  fire 


230  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

brick.  It  is  56  feet  high,  12  feet  across  the  boshes,  and  four- 
foot  hearth,  set  on  columns,  and  surmounted  by  a  bell  and 
hopper  top,  with  an  exit  chimney.  The  funnel  of  the  bosh 
is  encased  in  an  iron  jacket  and  pierced  with  three  tuyere 
chambers,  in  which  are  fitted  Ta\ys  &  Hartman's  Philadelphia 
cooling  boxes  and  water  coils.  The  base  is  surrounded  by  a 
water  jacket,  and  within  the  foundation  are  damp  chambers 
and  air  cells.  The  gas  exit  is  two  feet  below  the  top  of  the 
stack,  leading  down  an  iron  column  lined  with  fire  brick  of 
six  feet  six  inches  internal  diameter,  to  a  reservoir  from  where 
gas  is  distributed  to  the  hot  blasts  and  boilers,  and  regulated 
by  valves.  The  blast  pipes  and  tuyeres  are  to  be  hung  in 
stirrups,  the  tuyeres  being  provided  with  ball  and  socket  L 
joint,  to  avoid  the  derangement  of  contraction  and  expansion. 
Water  is  to  be  supplied  to  the  coolers  by  gravity  from  a 
tank  at  an  elevation  on  the  side  of  the  stack. 

The  work  of  this  entire  structure  is  of  the  best  character,, 
substantial  and  complete  in  every  particular.  The  stack  is 
located  in  a  casting  house  71x78i  feet,  the  space  given  to  it 
occupying  one-half  of  the  narrowest  dimensions,  the  other 
half  being  set  apart  for  a  second  stack  to  be  erected  hereafter, 
and  for  which  the  foundation  is  already  constructed.  It  is  a 
fine  building  of  white  brick,  on  broad  foundation  walls  provi- 
ded with  water  sheds,  and  surmounted  by  an  iron  roof  of  the 
most  approved  construction. 

The  fuel  supply  is  obtained  from  lands  along  the  line  of  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway,  above  and  below  Escanaba, 
upon  which  a  sufficient  number  of  kilns  for  charring  pur- 
poses have  been  constructed. 

The  furnace  has  not  met  with  the  success  anticipated.  It 
made  an  unfortunate  commencement,  met  with  a  chill,  and 
soon  after  entering  upon  a  successful  run,  financial  embarrass- 
ment compelled  a  suspension  of  operations.  Its  product  has 
been  as  follows: 

YEAR.  GROSS   TONS. 

1873 2,175- 

1874 6,335 

1875 70 

Total..  8,580 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  231 

THE  PEAT  EUK:NACE 

was  built  by  the  Lake  Superior  Iron  Company,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  experimenting  with  peat  fuel  in  the  smelting  of  iron 
ores.  It  is  located  at  Ishpeming,  near  the  company's  mines, 
and  was  completed  and  started  up  in  1872,  but  did  not  prove 
a  success.  Some  changes  were  then  made,  the  furnace  started 
again  and  made  some  two  tons  of  grey  iron;  but  it  was  found 
that  the  furnace  was  too  small  to  work  effectually,  and  it  was 
blown  out.  The  next  summer,  the  furnace  having  been  en- 
larged in  height  and  boshes,  and  furnished  with  a  larger  hot 
blast,  ran  very  well  for  some  weeks,  with  a  mixed  fuel  of  80 
per  cent,  peat  and  20  per  cent,  soft  wood  charcoal.  The 
panic  caused  a  suspension  of  work,  and  the  furnace  has  been 
idle  ever  since.  It  made  in  all  1,150  tons  of  metal  of  a  very 
superior  quality,  and  though  not  wholly  successful  as  an  experi- 
ment, demonstrated  to  a  certainty  the  fact  that  the  immense 
peat  beds  of  the  Lake  Superior  iron  region  can  be  utilized  for 
blast  furnace  purposes. 

THE  CAEP  RIYEB  PURKACE 

is  the  property  of  the  Peninsular  Iron  Company,  and  was 
built  in  1873,  making  her  first  blast  in  the  spring  of  1874. 
It  is  situated  on  the  bay  shore,  at  the  mouth  of  Carp  River, 
within  the  limits  of  the  city  of  Marquette.  It  is  a  stone  stack 
with  nine-foot  boshes,  with  kilns  convenient,  though  the 
wood  has  to  be  brought  from  a  considerable  distance.  After 
making  1,445  tons,  operations  were  suspended. 

THE  MEKOMIKEE   FURNACE. 

This  furnace  was  built  with  a  view  of  utilizing,  as  material 
for  charcoal,  the  slabs  and  edgings  which  are  made  at  the 
saw  mills  at  Menominee.  The  furnace  is  an  iron  stack,  well 
equipped  in  every  particular,  and  went  into  blast  about  the 
middle  of  July,  1873,  the  first  cast  being  made  on  the  20th. 
The  experiment  of  making  iron  with  coal  from  pine  slabs  and 
soft  wood,  so  far  as  quality  and  quantity  is  concerned,  has 
been  a  decided  success,  as  the  following  table  of  products  will 
show: 


232 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


YEAR.  GROSS   TONS. 

1873 2,400 

1874 4  942 

1875..  ..3510 


Total. 


10,852 

It  is  proper  to  remark  that  the  furnace  was  out  of  blast 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  half  the  time  during  the  years  named, 
and  the  figures  given  do  not  by  any  means  indicate  her 
actual  capacity.  This  furnace  is  the  property  of  the  Menomi- 
nee  Iron  Company,  of  which  M.  R.  Hunt,  Esq.,  is  general 
manager,  with  office  at  Depere,  Wis. 


TABULAR  STATEMENTS. 


The  following  table  shows  the  total  shipments  of  iron  ore 

from  the   Lake  Superior  mines  in  1875,  together  with  the 
value  at  the  mines: 

NAME   OP   MINE.                                                                       GROSS  TONS.  VALUE. 

Jackson 90,508  $384,914 

New  York 70,754  2*3,016 

Cleveland 140,239  560,956 

Lake  Superior 129,339  463,821 

Champion 57,979  231.916 

Washington 9  641  38.564 

Republic :../..  119,768  509,014 

Kloinan 8.059  82.236 

Palmer  (Old  Cascade) 4,071  15,267 

Barnum 43,209  172,836 

Foster 667  1,668 

Salisbury 4,330  10,b35 

Lake  Angeline '. 26,370  98,887 

Edwards 12,800  51,200 

Spurr  Mountain 23,09^1  92.376 

Michigamme 44.763  179,052 

Keystone 3,846  13.374 

McComber 10,407  26,018 

Winthrop 7,502  20,631 

Saginaw 55,318  221,272 

Goodrich 1,780  7,120 

Rolling  Mill 37,806  98,295 

Excelsior 2,860  7,150 

Marquetie.. 3,088  12,352 

Grand  Central 987  2,468 

Iron  Mountain 1,635  4,088 

Donkersley 282  705 

Smith 187  468 


Total 910,840       $3,540,499 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


The  following  table  exhibits  the  aggregate  product  of  each 
mine  from  1856  to  1875  inclusive: 

NAME   OF  MINE.  GROSS   TONS. 

Jackson 1,507,285 

New  York 669,426 

Cleveland 1,406,162 

Lake  Superior 1,690,320 

Champion 412,397 

Washington 382,504 

Republic 363,201 

Kioman 64,212 

Palmer  (Old  Cascade) 80,749 

Barnurn 309,665 

Foster 106,157 

Salisbury 12,355 

Lake  Aiigeline 397,576 

Edwards 177,948 

Spurr  Mountain 97,095 

Michigamine 119  164 

Keystone 18,999 

McComber 96,978 

Winthrop 77,303 

Sagimuv 156,445 

Goodrich 8,138 

Rolling  Mill 72,576 

Excelsior 4,681 

Marquette 57,980 

Grand  Central 22,271 

Iron  Mountain 18,341 

Smith 22,960 

Pittsburgh  &  Lake  Superior 24,020 

Sheuaugo 16,404 

Albion 2,228 

Carr 2,603 

Bagaley 6,243 

Howell  Hoppock 2,205 

Emma 7,863 

Home 3,229 

Cambria  (Old  Teal  Lake) 2,610 

Williams. 1,040 

Rowland 2,278 

Himrod 2,074 

Green  Bay 8,582 

Gribben T 4,517 

New  England  (now  Superior) 108,990 

Allen 9,347 

Magnetic 78 

Hungerford 145 

Parsons 1,896 

Negaunee 11,684 

Mather 2,228 

Franklin 2,007 

Michigan 4,439 


234  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Quartz 3,108 

Stewart 305 

Other  small  and  abandoned  mines 36,508 


Total 8,619,519 

The  following  table  shows  the  shipments  of  pig  iron  from 
Lake  Superior  furnaces  during  the  year  1875,  together  with 
its  value: 

NAME   OF   FURNACE.  GROSS  TONS.      VALUE. 

Pioneer 17,606       $  484,165 

Michigan 3,098  85,195 

Bancroft 5,277  145,177 

Morgan 5,377  147,867 

Deer  Lake 4,615  126,912 

Fayette 14,075  387,062 

Bay 9,223  253,632 

Munising 4,239  116,572 

Marquette  &  Pacific 10,940  300,850 

Escanaba 70  1,925 

Carp  River 70  1,925 

Menominee 3,510  96,525 

Cliff 2,058  56,595 

Greeenwood 1,595  43,862 

Total 81,753      $2,248,264 

This  table  shows  the  aggregate  shipments  of  pig  iron  from 
the  Lake  Superior  furnaces  up  to  the  close  of  navigation  in 
1875: 

NAME  OF*FURNACE.  GROSS  TONS. 

Pioneer 100,381 

Northern 15,059 

Collins 41,997 

Michigan 41,531 

Greenwood 40,202 

Bancroft 51,336 

Morgan 53,632 

Champion 31,048 

Deer  Lake 25,139 

Fayette 70,092 

Bay 38,337 

Munising '. 22,625 

Grace , 11,346 

Marquette  &  Pacific 21,880 

Escanaba 8,580 

Peat  Furnace 1,150 

Carp  River 1 , 145 

Menominee 10,582 

Cliff 6,830 


Total 592,892 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


235 


The  following  is  a  statement  in  gross  tons  of  the  aggre- 
gate yield  of  the  mines  and  furnaces  of  this  district  from 
1856  to  1875,  inclusive,  together  with  the  value  of  the  same: 


YEAK. 

IKON  ORB. 

PIG  IKON. 

ORE  AND  PIG 
IRON. 

VALUE. 

1856 

7,000 

7,GOO 

$       28.000  00 

1857 

21.000 

• 

21,000 

63,000  00 

1858 

31,035 

'  1,629 

32.664 

249,202  00 

1859 

65.679 

7,25S 

72.937 

575,529  00 

1860 

116,908 

5,660 

122,568 

736.496  00 

1861 

45,430 

7,970 

53,400 

419,501  00 

1862 

115,721 

8,590 

124,311 

984,977  00 

1863 

185,257 

9,813 

195,070 

1,416,935  00 

1864 

235.123 

13,832 

248,955 

1,867,215  00 

1865 

196,258 

12,283 

208,539 

1,590.43000 

1866  ' 

296,972 

18,437 

315.409 

2,405,960  00 

1867 

466,076 

30,911 

496,987 

3,475.820  00 

1868 

507.813 

38,246 

546,059 

3,992.413  00 

1869 

633.238 

39.003 

672.241 

4,968,435  00 

1870 

850.471 

49,298 

905,769 

6,300,170  00 

1871 

813,379 

51.225 

864,604 

6,115.895  00 

1872 

952,055 

63,195 

1,015.250 

9,188,055  00 

1873 

1,167,379 

71.507 

1,238.886 

11,395,887  00 

1874 

935,488 

90.494 

1,025.982 

7,592,811  00 

1875 

910,840 

81,753 

992,593 

5,788,763  00 

Total.... 

8.559,120 

601.104 

9,160.224 

$69,155,494  00 

MINERAL   RESOURCES 


THE  MENOMINEE  IRON  REGION. 


The  center  of  this  region  is  about  fifty  miles  north  of 
west  from  Escanaba;  fifty  to  sixty  miles  south-west  of  Mar- 
quette,  and  about  fifty  miles  north  of  Menoniinee,  in  direct 
air  lines.  It  lies  in  the  northern  part  of  Menoniinee,  and 
extreme  southern  portion  of  Marquette  counties,  extending 
across  the  Menoniinee  river  into  Wisconsin.  It  is,  as  yet,  a 
comparatively  new  mining  field,  but  the  explorations  and 
discoveries  made  leave  no  cause  to  doubt  that  it  will  ulti- 
mately acquire  a  value  and  importance  only  surpassed,  if  at 
all,  by  the  Marquette  ranges,  which  now  produce  nearly  one- 
third  of  all  the  iron  made  in  the  United  States. 

The  mines  of  this  region  lie  apparently  not  far  from  the 
base  of  the  great  iron  formation  of  which  the  mines  in  Mar- 
quette county  form  a  part,  and  which  appears  to  reach  its 
southern  boundary  about  sixty-five  miles  north  of  Menoni- 
inee village,  or  the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  geology  of  the 
ridges  containing  the  ore  is  somewhat  different  from  that  in 
Marquette  county,  in  the  absence  of  a  limonite  rock  behind 
the  ore  veins,  which  is  here  supplied  by  an  iron  slate  or  ore- 
bearing  schist,  and  the  approach  to  the  veins,  both  hematite 
and  specular,  is  a  clay  slate  instead  of  a  quartzite.  Yet  the 
general  features  of  the  formation  lead  to  the  belief  that  the 
deposits  are  parts  of  the  same  fields  in  which  the  mines  of 
Marquette  county  are  located. 

Whether  these  deposits  will  open  with  regularity  and  con- 
tinue without  interruption  for  some  distance,  cannot  be  told, 
as  explorations  have  not  been  carried  forward  to  an  extent 
sufficient  to  determine  this  point.  But  the  work  done  at  the 


.     OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  237 

Quinesaik  mine,  through  test-pits  aiicl  a  drift  across  the 
series  of  veins  composing  the  ore  deposit,  shows  that  consid- 
erable dependence  can  be  placed  upon  an  uninterrupted  lead 
of  the  ores.  The  soft  hematites  prevail  so  far,  and  their 
quality  is  of  superior  character.  Some  of  the  explorations 
reveal  an  inferior  quality  of  red  specular,  and  further  work 
will  undoubtedly  open  rich  mines  of  this  ore.  Very  fine 
specimens  are  picked  up  at  various  points,  and  are  broken 
from  ledges  which  outcrop  north  of  the  present  base  of 
operations. 

THE  BBEEN  MINE. 

This  property  is  located  on  section  22,  town  39,  range  28, 
and  the  tract  consists  of  120  acres.  It  is  owned  by  Messrs. 
Saxton,  Ingalls,  B.  and  T.  Breen,  and  others,  of  Menominee. 
Work  was  commenced  upon  it  some  five  years  since,  but  at 
first  not  enough  was  done  to  make  the  development  valuable 
or  the  prospect  promising.  In  1872  work  was  resumed  by 
the  Milwaukee  Iron  Company,  by  an  agreement  which  would 
make  that  company  lessees  and  proprietors  if  certain  condi- 
tions were  complied  with  by  both  parties  to  the  arrangement. 
It  has  since  been  abandoned  temporarily,  the  Milwaukee  Iron 
Company  having  changed  their  base  of  operations  to  another 
quarter. 

The  deposit  outcrops  on  the  south  side  of  a  ridge,  which 
has  an  elevation  of  nearly  eighty  feet  above  a  meadow  at 
its  base.  Into  this  elevation  on  the  south  side,  a  drift  has 
been  driven  a  distance  of  about  forty  feet,  through  a  vein  of 
rich,  hard  blue  hematite,  and  into  a  deposit  of  banded  jas- 
pery  ore,  of  little  value.  Test-pits  have  also  been  sunk  at 
various  places  east  and  north  of  this  drift,  in  some  of  which 
rich  ore  has  been  found:  still  further  west  a  trench  across 
the  formation  has  exposed  a  deposit  of  hard  ore  seventy-five 
feet  in  width,  specimens  from  which  have  been  analyzed  and 
found  to  contain  68  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron.  This  mine 
is  about  fifteen  miles  distant  from  the  nearest  point  on  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway. 


238  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

THE  BREITUKG  MLN"E. 

This  mine  consists  of  section  10,  town  39,  range  29,  five 
and  a  half  miles  west  and  north  of  the  Breen.  Its  name  is 
derived  from  the  owner  of  the  land,  Hon.  Edward  Breitung, 
of  Negaunee,  and  all  the  explorations  thus  far,  have  been 
made  by  the  Milwaukee  Iron  Company.  On  the  east  end  of 
the  property  a  drift  has  been  carried  back  under  the  face  of 
the  hill,  for  a  distance  of  over  one  hundred  feet,  through  a 
lean  specular  ore.  The  rear  end  of  the  drift  is  eighty  feet 
below  the  surface,  and  it  was  expected  that  here,  or  before 
reaching  a  point  so  far  in  the  side  of  the  hill,  a  good  deposit 
of  ore  would  be  struck,  in  the  usual  way  of  expecting  that 
a  vein  will  get  better  as  it  is  worked  into.  The  management 
was  disappointed,  however,  and  the  miners  were  driven  out 
by  water  and  insufficient  ventilation. 

Several  shafts  have  been  sunk  on  other  parts  of  the  prop- 
erty, drifts  from  the  bottom  of  which  across  the  formation 
cut  a  vein  of  hard  ore  carrying  a  width  of  from  45  to  50  feet, 
analyses  of  which  show  an  average  of  about  55  per  cent. 
of  metallic  iron.  In  another  place,  one  of  the  drifts  referred 
to,  revealed  a  regularly  stratified  deposit  of  rich  brown  hema- 
tite ninety  feet  in  width,  and  which  has  since  been  traced  a 
distance  of  half  a  mile  or  more  in  length.  This  hematite 
carries  an  average  of  61  per  cent,  metallic  iron,  and  lies  in 
such  position  that  it  can  be  mined  at  a  trifling  cost.  Its  dis- 
covery fixes  an  indisputable  value  upon  the  mine. 


THE   QUINESAIK 

This  property  consists  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
34,  town  40,  range  30,  and  is  five  miles  north  and  west  of  the 
Breitung  mine.  It  is  owned  by  W.  L.  Wetmore,  of  Mar- 
quette,  Fred  L.  Easier,  of  Detroit,  T.  W.  Edwards  and  Richard 
Uren,  of  Houghton,  and  J.  L.  Buell,  of  Menominee  —  Messrs. 
Wetmore  and  Lasier  each  owning  one-quarter.  Operations 
were  commenced  early  in  the  summer  of  1873,  and  a  valuable 
mine  was  opened.  The  ore  is  supposed  to  be  in  the  same 
range  with  that  of  the  Breen  and  Breitung,  running  from 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  239 

south  of  east  to  north  of  west,  along  elevations  which  have 
been  raised  in  regular  succession  across  the  face  of  the  coun- 
try. Between  this  and  the  Breitung  mine  a  heavy  ledge  of 
limestone,  extending  for  more  than  two  miles,  has  been 
thrown  up,  but  whether  it  intercepts  the  ore  has  not  been 
determined. 

The  work  at  the  mine  is  embraced  in  a  cut  across  a  good 
vein  of  specular  ore,  and  a  series  of  shafts,  drifts  and  test-pits 
across  the  formation  at  right  angles,  which  reveals  the 
character  of  the  ores  very  completely.  The  whole  work 
extends  across  the  formation  for  a  distance  of  over  500  feet. 
The  veins  have  a  dip  to  the  north,  with  a  hanging  wall  of 
lean  ore  and  Potsdam  sandstone.  Under  this  wall  is  a  vein  of 
fine-grained,  flinty  and  specular  ore,  which  carries  over  50 
per  cent,  of  iron  in  the  outcrop,  and  grows  rapidly  better  as 
it  is  worked  into.  Adjoining  this  is  a  thirty-foot  vein  of  soft 
slate  ore,  of  a  blue  tinge  when  first  taken  out,  but  a  deep 
brown  color  when  exposed.  It  powders  red,  and  is  in  scintil- 
lating crystals,  assays  63  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron,  and  is  as 
clean  and  fine  a  hematite  as  the  Upper  Peninsula  has  yet 
produced.  Next  is  a  vein  of  specular  of  some  four  feet,  and 
then  a  smaller  vein  of  slate  ore,  with  a  foot  wall  of  pesheka 
schist.  Further  along  are  the  slates,  brown  and  red,  a  vein 
of  lean  specular  and  one  of  brown  hematite — the  latter  being 
similar  to  that  taken  from  the  Negaunee  range — and  still 
further  beyond  a  very  strong  magnetic  attraction.  Altogether 
this  mine  has  great  promise,  and  can  be  worked  to  good 
advantage. 

The  ore  at  this  mine  is  a  blue  hematite,  unlike  any  of  the 
ores  found  in  the  Marquette  region.  It  can  hardly  be  called 
a  soft  hematite,  and  yet  is  not  a  hard  ore,  in  the  common 
acceptation  of  the  term.  It  is  rather  an  intermediate  between 
the  hard  and  soft  varities  of  hematite;  has  been  tested  in  the 
furnace,  yields  well,  and  is  pronounced  most  excellent  for 
Bessemer  iron,  having  scarcely  a  trace  of  sulphur  or  phos- 
phorus. The  mine  has  been  leased  for  a  long  term  of  years 
by  the  Milwaukee  Iron  Company,  after  a  long  and  careful 


240  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

examination,  and  will  be  wrought  to  supply  their  Milwaukee 
furnaces  as  soon  as  railway  communication  is  secured  by  the 
building  of  the  Menominee  Range  Railroad.  This  road  is 
almost  certain  to  be  completed  to  the  mine  on  or  before  the 
1st  of  May,  1877.  Escanaba  is  the  natural  lake  shipping  port 
for  the  product  of  these  mines. 

On  the  north  half  of  section  32,  town  40,  range  30,  is  the 

VERMILLION   MIKE, 

owned  and  opened  by  Captain  Welcome  Hyde,  of  Appleton, 
Wis.  The  work  done  thus  far  consists  of  several  shafts  and 
a  trench  across  the  formation,  which  show  a  deposit  of  soft 
hematite  about  20  feet  in  width,  and  in  length,  so  far  as 
opened,  about  300  feet.  The  ore  is  an  unusually  rich  hema- 
tite, the  average  of  several  analyses  being  60  per  cent,  of 
metallic  iron.  Capt.  Hyde  has  expended  about  85,000  on  the 
property,  and  is  now  satisfied  to  await  the  building  of  a  rail- 
road, when  he  will  be  ready  to  commence  active  mining 
operations. 

Crossing  the  Menominee  river  into  Wisconsin,  the  range 
has  again  been  opened  on  sections  20  and  21,  township  40, 
range  18,  East,  near  the  dividing  line  of  which  sections  is 
located  what  has  been  named  the 

EAGLE   IRON  MINE, 

which  was  explored  and  discovered  by  Fisher  &  Keyes,  of 
Menasha,  Wis.  The  deposit  is  in  a  ridge  about  eighty  feet 
above  the  level  of  Fisher  Lake,  which  lies  near  its  base,  and 
has  been  opened  by  the  sinking  of  numerous  test-pits,  by 
which  a  body  of  hard  blue  hematite  was  revealed.  This  de- 
posit is  found  to  be  not  less  than  125  feet  in  width,  and  has 
been  found  along  a  distance  of  300  feet  on*  the  range.  There 
is  certainly  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  deposit  is  a  very 
large  one,  and  the  assays  which  have  been  made  show  the  ore 
to  contain  an  average  of  56.72  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron.  Of 
five  assays  a  trace  of  phosphorus  was  found  in  one  only, 
showing  that  it  will  be  a  very  desirable  ore  for  Bessemer  pig. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  241 

THE   ELWOOD   MINE 

is  situated  about  two  miles  north  of  the  Eagle,  in  sections  15 
and  16,  of  the  same  town  and  range — 011  the  banks  of  the 
Brule  River.  This  location  is  owned  by  Elwood  Brothers, 
Decatur,  111.  The  outcrop  is  about  seventy-five  feet  above 
the  river,  where  may  be  seen  small  veins  of  ore,  of  apparent 
good  quality.  Test-pits  have  also  been  sunk  at  different 
points,  but  so  far,  nothing  like  ore  in  paying  quantity  has 
been  developed. 

Still  further  west,  on  the  range  in  section  25,  town  40, 
range  17,  east,  a  heavy  outcrop  of  magnetic  ore  may  be  seen, 
and  a  few  test-pits  encourage  the  belief  that  the  deposit  is 
not  only  very  extensive,  but  the  ore  of  a  superior  quality. 

Numerous  other  outcrops  have  been  found  on  the  range 
east  and  west  of  the  river,  but  as  yet  nothing  has  been  done 
to  prove  the  extent  or  value  of  the  deposits,  except  at  the 
localities  mentioned.  Of  the  future  of  the  Menominee  Iron 
Region,  all  depends  upon  the  quality  of  the  ore  when  its 
mines  shall  be  more  fully  developed.  That  the  deposits  rival 
those  of  the  Marquette  region  in  quality,  there  is  no  longer 
a  question — nor  is  it  to  be  disputed  that  the  blue  hematites  of 
the  Quinesaik,  Breitung  and  Breen  Mines,  are  fully  equal,  if 
not  superior,  to  the  best  hematites  of  the  Marquette  district. 
These  alone  will  be  sufficient  to  give  the  district  prominence 
in  the  future;  but  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  most 
valuable  deposits  of  specular  and  magnetic  ores  will  also 
be  found  in  the  natural  course  of  development  which  is  sure 
to  follow  close  upon  the  building  of  the  Menominee  Range 
railroad. 

RETROSPECTIVE. 

The  development  of  the  Lake  Superior  iron  interest  really 
began  in  1856-' 7.  Like  all  other  enterprises  in  a  new  country, 
the  development  of  the  iron  mining  interest  was  attended  by 
many  difficulties  which,  at  times,  seemed  almost  insurmount- 
able. The  first  discovery  in  1845  was  met  with  many 
expressions  of  doubt  and  unbelief,  and  when  at  last  it  was 
definitely  known  that  our  hills  contained  an  inexhaustible 


242  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

quantity  of  the  richest  iron  ores,  lying  in  solid  masses,  the 
greatest  obstacles  still  remained  in  the  way  of  their  develop- 
ment. The  iron  hills  lay  in  an  unbroken  forest,  fourteen 
miles  distant  from  the  lake,  and  means  of  transportation  to 
the  lake  side  must  be  provided.  This  accomplished,  the  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  were  by  no  means  entirely  overcome. 
Communication  between  the  Lake  Superior  country  and  the 
cities  on  the  lower  lakes  was  precarious  and  very  expensive. 
To  get  the  ore  to  market,  it  must  be  shipped  at  high  rates  on 
the  few  craft  that  had  been  brought  to  Lake  Superior  over 
the  portage.  At  the  foot  of  the  lake  the  ore.  was  discharged 
and  hauled  over  the  portage  and  around  the  St.  Mary's  Falls, 
when  it  was  "again  loaded  in  vessels  for  ports  below.  This 
was  a  tedious  process,  and  its  expense  made  the  experiment 
rather  dubious  as  a  remunerative  enterprise. 

Then,  too,  the  iron  had  to  be  introduced  into  the  market 
and  its  merits  made  known;  and  iron-workers,  reluctant  to 
experiment  on  a  material  of  such  different  quality  from  that 
which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  work,  must  be  induced 
to  try  the  merits  cf  the  new  iron.  Two  objects  were  neces- 
sary to  be  accomplished  before  the  venture  could  be  success- 
ful: the  iron  must  be  properly  brought  before  the  public, 
and  the  facilities  for  getting  it  to  market  must  be  increased 
and  cheapened.  -The  energetic  men  who  led  the  forlorn 
hope  went  to  work  in  earnest.  A  road  was  opened  from  the 
lake  to  the  mines,  and  a  tram-way  of  planks,  with  strap  rails, 
constructed.  A  full  equipment  of  tram  wagons,  mules,  and 
other  necessaries,  were  procured.  Docks  were  built  at  Mar- 
quette,  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  paid  in  capital  of  the 
two  pioneer  companies  was  expended  in  making  preparations 
for  extensive  mining,  and  the  transportation  of  the  ore  to 
market. 

In  the  meantime  a  large  grant  of  lands  had  been  made  to 
a  company  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a  canal  around  the 
Falls,  which  would  give  direct  communication  between  the 
upper  and  lower  lakes.  This  project,  of  such  vital  importance 
to  the  mining  interests  of  Lake  Superior,  was  allowed  to  lag, 


OP  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  243 


and  there  was  well-grounded  fears  of  embarrassing  delays,  if 
not  ultimate  abandonment  of  the  work.  Owing  in  a  great 
measure  to  the  persistent  efforts  of  those  interested  in  the 
Iron  Mining  Companies,  the  work  was  pushed  through  to 
completion,  and  on  the  18th  of  June,  1855,  the  canal  was 
opened. 

The  next  thing  was  to  test  the  value  of  the  ore, and  bring 
it  to  the  favorable  attention  of  iron  workers.  Rigid  tests 
were  made,  and  proved  that  while  the  tenacity  of  the  best 
Swedish  iron  was  59  tons  to  the  square  inch,  English  cable 
bolt  59  tons,  and  Russian  76  tons,  iron  manufactured  from 
Lake  Superior  ore  stood  at  89J.  Its  freedom  from  admixture 
with  sulphur,  phosphorus  or  arsenic,  was  found  to  give  it  a 
tenacity  unequalled  by  any  other  iron  known  to  commerce. 
Quantities  of  the  new  iron  were  introduced  into  the  rolling- 
mills,  car  axle  factories,  boiler  plate  factories,  and  other  iron 
works,  and  the  unanimous  testimony  of  all  who  tried  it  was 
that  it  was  preferable  to  the  best  iron  previously  known,  both 
for  strength  and  ease  with  which  it  could  be  worked.  Those 
who  tried  it  were  eager  to  obtain  more,  and  from  this  time 
the  demand  more  than  kept  pace  wi^h  the  facilities  for  in- 
creasing the  supply. 

The  building  of  the  tram-road  to  the  mines,  and  the  sub- 
sequent construction  of  the  M.  &  0.  R.  R.  and  afterwards  the 
Peninsula  Division  C.  &.  N.  W.  has  already  been  referred  to. 
The  first  of  these  railways  was  completed  in  1857,  and  the 
other  in  1865. 

It  is  but  thirteen  years  since  the  first  shipments,  made  from 
the  Cleveland  mine,  immediately  after  the  opening  of  the 
canal,  brought  the  iron  district  into,  communication  with  a 
market.  In  that  time  the  mines  have  been  developed  into  an 
inexhaustible  source  of  wealth,  the  neighborhood  of  the  mines 
improved  and  built  upon,  railroad  tracks  constructed, 
extensive  docks  with  trestle  works,  "shoots,"  "pockets," 
and  other  improved  conveniences  for  loading  vessels  erected,  • 
and  Marquette  itself  expanded  from  a  few  lonely  houses  into 
a  large  and  flourishing  town,  with  an  extensive  business 


244  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

to  which  tourists  come  in  crowds,  as  a  delightful  summer 
resort.  The  total  shipment  of  ore  from  the  two  ports  of 
Marquette  and  Escanaba  have  increased  from  less  than  1,500 
tons  in  1855,  to  over  a  million  of  tons  in  1873,  and  but  for  the 
panic,  which  has  probably  had  a  more  depressing  effect  upon 
the  iron  interest,  than  any  other  of  our  great  industries,  it 
is  fair  to  assume  that  the  same  ratio  of  increase  in  the  pro- 
duction of  the  Lake  Superior  mines  would  have  been  main- 
tained until  now. 

The  larger  portion  of  our  ores  go  to  Cleveland,  whence 
they  are  re-shipped  to  the  coal  fields  of  the  Mahoning  and 
Shenango  valleys,  by  railroad.  About  one  hundred  furnaces 
in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  use  Lake  Superior  ore,  while  nearly 
all  the  charcoal  furnaces  in  the  Northwest  are  supplied  from 
our  mines.  But  the  market  for  our  ores  is  not'  confined  to 
the  furnaces  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  though  they  have 
hitherto  taken  the  great  bulk  of  the  product  of  our  mines. 
Our  market  place  includes  likewise  the  whole  of  the  great 
Northwest. 

The  day  is  forever  past  when  iron  manufacturers  east  of 
the  Alleghenies  will  furnish  the  West  with  iron.  They  have 
ceased  to  do  so.  Henceforth  75,000  out  of  every  100,000 
tons  of  iron  ore  that  goes  to  the  coal  fields  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghenies for  manufacture  will  be  from  Lake  Superior,  while 
90,000  out  of  every  100,000  tons  of  iron  used  in  the  West 
will  have  been  produced  west  of  them.  Then  consider  the 
present  population  of  the  West — some  15,000,000 — the  rate 
at  which  it  is  being  augmented — the  commercial  facilities 
which  exist  to  foster  and  encourage  manufactures  and  the 
mechanical  arts — the  numerous  railroads  that  must  still  be 
constructed,  and  the  ten  thousand  other  improvements  that 
will  ultimately  require  vast  amounts  of  iron.  When  we 
look  at  these  facts,  the  question  of  market  is  forever  settled. 
Then,  in  the  course  of  human  events,  Lake  Superior  iron  is 
going  to  Europe.  With  some  this  may  excite  a  smile,  but 
ere  long  the  fact  will  be  realized,  since,  for  certain  important 
uses,  it  has  no  equal  in  the  world. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  245 

Though  now  depressed,  we  doubt  whether,  in  view  of  all 
the  facts,  there  is  a  business  interest  in  the  United  States 
which  promises  better  and  surer  returns  for  a  long  series  of 
years,  than  the  mining  and  smelting  of  the  iron  ores  of  Lake 
Superior.  The  panic  has  been  productive  of  at  least  one  good 
result;  it  has  brought  us  down  to  hard  pan;  there  will  be 
no  more  speculative  iron  mining  on  Lake  Superior;  the  devel- 
opment of  our  mines  will  be  conducted  on  legitimate  business 
principles ;  we  have  learned  a  lesson  in  economy,  and  though 
the  profits  may  not  be  so  large  in  the  aggregate,  there  will  be 
more  stability,  more  real  progress,  more  wealth,  and  conse- 
quently a  more  enduring  prosperity  than  ever  before.  And 
it  may  safely  be  said,  considering  the  magnitude  of  its  min- 
eral wealth,  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  the  Upper 
Peninsula  of  Michigan  will  take  a  front  rank  in  the  sublime 
destiny  of  the  great  and  growing  West — if  not  as  a  sover- 
eign state,  then  as  a  community  to  which  other  states  must 
of  necessity  look  for  their  supply  of  at  least  one  of  the  great 
staple  products  of  the  country. 


246  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


UNDEVELOPED  IRON  LANDS. 


For  a  few  years  prior  to  the  panic  of  1873  excitement  in 
the  Lake  Superior  Iron  District  ran  high,  and  the  forests  of 
Marquette  and  Menominee  counties  were  thronged  with  eager 
and  expectant  explorers,  armed  with  compass  and  needle,  and 
all  certain  of  securing  for  themselves  comfortable,  if  not 
enormous,  fortunes.  A  great  number  of  entries  were  made 
at  the  government  land  office,  embracing  all  the  lands  in  the 
counties  named  upon  which  the  existence  of  iron  ore  was 
even  suspected.  Pools  were  formed  in  the  east,  the  services 
of  veteran  explorers  secured  on  the  co-operative  plan,  and 
the  excitement  continued  until  the  panic  came  and  cast  a 
cloud  of  gloom  and  despondency  over  the  entire  region. 
Since  then  very  little  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  explora- 
tion, and  the  anticipated  fortunes  of  the  greedy  land  lookers 
are  held  in  abeyance.  Lands  known  to  possess  great  mineral 
value  are  still  undeveloped,  and  many  of  them  can,  to-day,  be 
purchased  for  the  amount  originally  paid  to  the  government, 
adding  interest  and  cost  of  exploration.  Many  persons  who 
were  impelled  by  the  well-grounded  belief  that  there  could  be 
no  interruption  in  the  work  of  development — that  Lake 
Superior  ores,  instead  of  going  begging  in  the  market,  would 
always  be  eagerly  sought  after  by  the  large  number  of  new 
furnaces  then  building,  and  numerous  others  to  follow — to 
invest  all  their  capital  in  new  mining  properties,  now  find 
themselves  so  cramped,  financially,  that  they  would  be  glad  to 
part  with  their  interests  for  a  consideration  equal  to  that 
originally  paid  for  them.  Not  because  they  are  less  valuable, 
intrinsically,  but  because  their  necessities  are  such  as  to 
compel  them  to  sacrifice  properties  from  which  large  fortunes 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  247 

will  ultimately  be  realized.  This  being  the  case,  there  never 
has  been,  in  the  history  of  the  region,  a  more  favorable  time 
for  the  investment  of  capital  in  iron  mining  properties  than 
the  present.  Fortunes,  to  be  realized  when  u  the  good  times 
come  again,1'  in  many  cases  are  begging  for  takers  from  those 
who  are  unable  to  weather  the  storm  and  await  in  patience 
the  lifting  of  the  financial  cloud  which  must  sooner  or  later 
be  dispelled,  revealing  the  clear  sky  beyond.  But  there 
are  many  others  more  fortunate,  who  are  able  to  hold  on  to 
their  purchases,  who  know  the  value  of  their  lands,  and  who 
will  not  sell  except  at  a  very  large  advance  on  the  original 
cost. 

Some  of  the  heaviest  investments,  made  in  1871-'2,  were  in 
the  Menominee  Range,  to  which  reference  has  already  been 
made.  Among  the  purchases  of  lands  in  that  region  were 
those  made  by  a  party  of  gentlemen  of  Eastern  Ohio  and 
Western  Pennsylvania,  represented  by  Geo.  C.  Reis,  trustee. 
The  lands  entered  by  this  pool  were  all  cl6sely  examined  and 
explored  previously  to  entry,  and  are  known  to  be  among  the 
most  valuable  undeveloped  lands  in  the  district.  Some  of 
them  are  situated  near  the  Quinesaik  Mine,  and  are  believed 
to  be  equally  as  valuable;  upon  other  of  their  lands,  in  Mar- 
quette  county,  have  been  found  large  deposits  of  first-class 
red  specular  ores,  and  there  can  be  no  question  that,  taken  as 
a  whole,  the  property  of  this  pool  will  ultimately  prove  of 
incalculable  value  and  a  source  of  great  profit  to  the  owners. 

THE   M.,    H.    &   O.    R.    R.    COMPANY 

own  an  estate  of  many  thousands  of  acres,  extending  along 
the  line  of  its  road  from  Marquette  to  L'Anse,  embracing  in 
all  about  400,000  acres.  Some  of  the  best  mines  in  the 
region,  (notably  the  Champion)  are  on  lands  originally 
owned  by  this  company.  The  line  runs  through  the  heart  of 
the  Marquette  iron  region,  there  being  few  mines  that  are 
not  reached  by  the  main  line  or  its  branches,  and  it  is  believed 
that  developments  yet  to  be  made  on  the  Michigamme  and 
Republic  ranges  will  add  a  score  or  more  to  the  paying  mines 
of  the  district. 


248  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Many  of  the  Company's  lands  are  valuable  for  the  timber 
alone,  and  in  an  estate  so  extensive,  extending  for  more  than 
fifty  miles  along  the  great  iron  range,  it  would  be  strange, 
indeed,  if  thej7  were  not  found,  ultimately,  to  embrace 
hidden  deposits  of  mineral  wealth  equal  to  any  and  all  that 
have  heretofore  been  discovered  in  the  region. 

The  Company  has  concluded  to  place  these  lands  in  the 
market,  and,  to  the  capitalist  seeking  a  safe  investment,  they 
will  be  found,  on  examination,  to  present  many  inducements. 
Notwithstanding  the  gratifying  progress  which  has  marked 
the  history  of  development  in  the  past,  the  iron  region  is  yet 
in  its  infancy,  and  it  is  almost  certain  that  the  future  will 
reveal  on  lands  that  can  now  be  bought  for  a  song,  compara- 
tively, deposits  of  ore  that  will  rival  the  famous  Republic,  or 
any  of  the  older  and  most  successful  mines. 

THE   TOLEDO   IRON,    LAND   AND   LUMBER   COMPANY 

is  possessed  of  a  valuable  estate  contiguous  to  the  Republic, 
together  with  lauds  in  Oatonagou  county.  Near  the  Re- 
public, what  appears  to  be  a  rich  deposit  of  slate  ore  has 
been  found,  but  as  yet,  nothing  has  been  done  towards  its 
development.  The  Company  was  not  organized  until  after 
the  panic,  the  continuance  of  which  put  an  effectual  damper 
on  all  new  enterprises.  With  a  revival  of  the  iron  trade, 
however,  will  come  a  renewal  of  operations  in  various 
quarters,  and  then,  it  is  confidently  believed,  the  earlier  antici- 
pations of  this  company  will  be  fully  realized. 

MAAS.   LONSTORF   &   MITCHELL, 

guided  by  an  outcrop  of  lean  ore,  a  short  distance  east  of 
Negaunee,  have  sunk  a  shaft  to  a  depth  of  nearly  100  feet, 
from  the  bottom  of  which  they  are  cross-cutting  in  the  hope 
of  striking  the  Jackson  vein.  Some  lean  ore  was  en- 
countered in  the  shaft,  but  though  the  indications  are  favor- 
able nothing  of  value  has  yet  been  found.  It  is  not  impos- 
sible that  the  Jackson  belt  may  be  found  to  extend  that  far 
east;  indeed,  the  developments  at  the  old  Eureka  mine,  only 
two  miles  west  of  Marquette,  would  seem  to  indicate  that.. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  *        249 

the  ore  belt  extends  to  the  lake  shore  and  under  the  lake 
itself.  It  is  not  improbable,  therefore,  that  new  mines  may 
ultimately  be  discovered  at  various  points  between  the 
Jackson  mine  and  Marquette,  though  it  is  possible  that  the 
deposit  may  be  covered  with  a  greater  depth  of  drift  than  at 
either  of  the  places  where  it  has  already  been  opened,  and  the 
ore,  as  at  the  Eureka  mine,  may  not  be  fully  up  to  the 
standard. 

There  are  many  other  valuable  properties  in  the  region 
which  only  await  the  return  of  prosperous  times  for  their 
development.  To  enumerate  them  would  only  be  tiresome  to 
the  reader. 

THE   PESTOKA   IRON   KAKGE. 

That  the  Marquette  Iron  Range  extends  westward  into 
Wisconsin  is  proved  by  the  discovery  of  iron  ore  in 
Ontouagon  county,  at  various  points,  and  the  more  recent 
developments  on  what  is  known  as  the  Penoka  Iron  Range, 
in  Ashland  county.  From  the  4th  principal  meridian  this 
range  has  been  traced  south  of  west  to  where  it  crosses  the 
St.  Croix  river  into  Minnesota.  It  first  appears  in  township 
45,  south,  at  an  elevation  of  1,000  feet  above  Lake  Superior, 
and  bearing  south  25  °  west,  holds  the  same  general  form 
and  course  for  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  when  it  becomes 
broken  into  knobs,  and  finally,  as  a  mere  ri$ge,  crosses  the 
St.  Croix,  beyond  which  it  has  not  been  traced. 

The  first  discovery  and  examination  of  the  Penoka  Range 
was  made  by  Col.  Charles  Whittlesey,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
who  was  the  assistant  of  Owen  when  he  made  his  survey  in 
1848-'9.  Others,  not  experts,  had  previously  visited  the  range 
and  found  iron,  but  could  not  afterwards  locate  it.  These 
discoveries  were  made  before  the  territory  was  surveyed,  and 
numerous  parties  "squatted"  on  the  lands;  but  everything 
supposed  to  be  valuable  for  iron  was  entered  at  the  gov- 
ernment land  office,  as  fast  as  surveyed,  by  Washington 
rings. 

Nothing  was  done  in  the  way  of  development  until  after 
the  completion  of  the  Wisconsin  Central  Railroad  to  Penoka 


250      %  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Gap,  in  1873,  although  several  companies  had  been  organized 
prior  to  1860.  These  companies  are  as  follows:  The  Mag- 
netic Iron  Company,  organized  under  the  general  mining 
laws  of  the  State  of  Michigan;  capital  stock,  $500,000, 
divided  into  20,000  shares.  This  company,  cf  which  Col. 
Whittlesey  is  President,  owns  1,500  acres  east  of  the  Gap,  but 
has  never  done  any  work  worthy  of  mention.  The  Wis- 
consin and  Lake  Superior  Company  was  organized  under  a 
special  charter,  granted  by  the  Wisconsin  legislature,  on  a 
basis  of  1,000  shares,  owns  2,000  acres  of  land;  Angus  Smith, 
Esq.,  of  Milwaukee,  President;  has  never  done  anything. 
The  Lapointe  Iron  Company  was  organized  in  1859,  under  a 
special  charter;  owns  6,000  acres  of  land,  just  west  of  the 
Gap,  including  that  upon  which  the  first  discovery  was  made 
by  Col.  Whittlesey;  Hon.  H.  B.  Payne,  now  member  of  Con- 
gress for  the  Cleveland,  Ohio,  district,  President.  In  1873  the 
Company  caused  a  shaft  to  be  sunk  to  a  depth  of  nearly  100 
feet,  in  a  body  of  apparently  very  rich  magnetic  ore.  The 
panic,  however,  caused  a  suspension  of  operations,  and  since 
then  nothing  has  been  done.  The  following  analyses  will 
give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  character  and  value  of  the 
ore: 

ANALYSIS   BY   PROF.    OWEJT,    1850. 

Peroxyde  and  protoxyde  of  iron 78 . 6 

Silica 18.6 

Magnesia 8 

Metallic  iron 58.13 

BY  CHILTON. 

Peroxyde  and  Protoxyde  89 .46 

Silica.    9.65 

Magnesia -85 

Metallic  iron 68.08 

An  analysis  of  a  lot  of  specimens,  from  the  leanest  to  the 
richest,  ground  together  so  as  to  procure  an  average,  made  by 
Prof.  Irving,  of  the  Wisconsin  State  University,  in  1874, 
gave  56.9  of  metallic  iron.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  per 
centage  of  silica  is  unusually  large  as  compared  with  the 
ores  of  the  Marquette  district;  but  it  is  not  improbable  that 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  251 


further  explorations  will  reveal  deposits  not  open  to  this 
objection.  The  work  done  thus  far,  if  not  wholly  sufficient 
to  prove  the  value  of  the  range,  is  at  least  sufficient  to  en- 
courage a  renewal  of  operations  at  the  earliest  day  practi- 
cable. The  running  of  a  drift  into  the  mountain  at  its  base, 
from  the  north  side,  will  reveal  all  there  is  of  value,  or  other- 
wise, at  a  depth  of  600  feet  from  the  bottom  of  the  shaft 
alluded  to;  and  that  plan  will  probably  be  adopted  when  the 
company  decide  upon  a  renewal  of  operations.  At  present, 
the  writer,  who  has  been  on  the  ground,  prefers  not  to  ex- 
press a  decided  opinion  as  to  the  merits  of  the  Penoka  Range. 
He  can  only  hope  as  he  has  reason  to  believe,  that  the  future 
will  bring  to  the  owners  a  realization  of  their  most  sanguine 
expectations. 

The  Penoka  Range  is  distant  from  Ashland,  the  northern 
terminus  of  'the  Wisconsin  Central  Railroad,  about  thirty 
miles.  The  road  was  completed  to  the  Gap  in  the  expecta- 
tion that  the  iron  companies  would  proceed  at  once  with  the 
work  of  development,  but.  as  has  been  stated,  the  panic  ren- 
dere<J  such  action  impossible,  and  no  ore  has  ever  been 
shipped  over  the  line.  At  present,  however,  the  Central 
Company  is  engaged  in  the  completion  of  its  line  from 
Penoka  south  to  the  northern  terminus  of  the  Steven's  Point 
division.  This  will  give  a  through  line  from  Ashland  to 
Milwaukee,  when  the  ore  from  the  range  can  be  shipped  by 
rail  to  the  latter  city,  or  via  Ashland  to  the  lower  lake  ports. 

Ashland  is,  (or  was  before  the  panic)  a  village  of  about 
2,000  inhabitants,  which  sprang  into  existence  with  the 
building  of  the  railroad  to  the  range.  It  is  at  the  head  of 
Ashland  (or  Chegwamegon)  Bay,  enjoys  the  advantages  of  a 
good  harbor,  and  will  ultimately  become  the  chief  lake  port 
west  of  the  Montreal  river. 


.252  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


SILVER. 

That  silver  existed  in  the  Iron  River  region,  Ontonagon 
county,  has  been  known  for  many  years.*  A  reference  to  it  was 
made  in  the  Relacions  of  the  early  missionaries,  and  was 
spoken  of  by  Henry  in  his  history  of  the  first  mining  enterprise 
on  Lake  Superior.  Some  forty  or  fifty  years  ago,  when  John 
Jacob  Astor  and  the  American  Fur  Company  had  a  station, 
or  trading  post,  at  the  mouth  of  Iron  River,  the  Indians 
were  known  to  have  constantly  in  their  possession  silver  in 
its  native  state  in  considerable  quantities,  and  the  men  are 
now  living  who  have  seen  them  with  large  chunks  as  "  big 
as  a  man's  fist;1'  but  no  one  ever  succeeded  in  inducing  them 
to  tell  or  show  where  the  hidden  treasure  lay.  A  super- 
stitious fear  always  clung  to  them,  and  does  even  to  this  day, 
that  if  they  showed  to  any  white  man  a  deposit  of  mineral, 
the  great  Manitou  would  punish  them  with  death.  Two 
instances  of  this  kind,  proving  the  superstitious  fears  of  the 
Indians  in  this  regard,  are  of  comparatively  recent  date. 
Several  years  since,  a  half-bred  Indian  brought  to  Ontonagon 
some  very  fine  samples  of  vein  rock,  carrying  considerable 
quanties  of  native  silver.  His  report  was  that  his  wife  had 
found  it  on  the  south  range  where  they  were  trapping,  and 
to  test  his  story  he  was  sent  back  for  more.  In  a  few  days 
he  returned,  bringing  with  him  quite  a  chunk,  from  which 
was  obtained  eleven  and  one-half  ounces  of  native  silver.  He 
returned  home,  went  among  the  Flambeaux  Indians  and  was 
killed.  His  wife,  to  this  day,  refuses  to  listen  to  any  pro- 
posals from  friend  or  foe  to  show  the  location  of  the  vein, 

*  The  author  is  indebted  to  Mr.  A.  Meads,  of  Ontonagon,  for  a  large  part  of  the 
information  given  in  this  sub-division. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOK. 


clinging  with  religious  tenacity  to  the  superstitions  of  her 
tribe. 

The  present  Nonesuch  copper  vein  was  discovered  by  an 
Iron  River  half-breed,  and  shown  to  some  white  men.  The 
poor  fellow  soon  sickened  and  died.  His  relatives  and  friends 
shook  their  heads  and  said  they  knew  it  would  be  so.  These 
instances  are  mentioned  to  show  the  superstition  of  the  red 
man  on  the  discovery  of  mineral  veins,  and  to  account  in 
some  measure  for  the  long  delay  and  failure  in  tracing  up  the 
rich  deposits  of  minerals  which  have  so  long  been  known  to 
exist  in  the  Iron  River  district. 

In  1846  or  '47  quite  a  distinguished  party  then  on  the 
lake  exploring,  surveying,  and  examining  the  wonderful 
mineral  discoveries  of  Lake  Superior,  were  induced  by  an 
Indian  to  go  up  Iron  River  to  see  a  big  rock  of  native 
silver.  They  started  eager  to  find  the  great  riches  before 
them.  The  Indian  led  them  a  fearful  and  useless  hunt  of 
several  days,  but  at  last  the  party  became  tired  and  disgusted 
and  told  the  Indian  before  starting  (from  their  camp  in  the 
morning)  that  if  he  did  not  bring  them  to  the  silver  rock 
before  night  they  would  shoot  him.  After  traveling  till 
noon  the  Indian  brought  them  to  the  bank  of  a  small  stream 
and  told  them  to  sit  down  and  he  would  find  it.  In  a  short 
time  he  returned  and  told  them  that  the  great  Manitou  had 
become  displeased  with  him  and  had  turned  the  great  silver 
rock  into  a  rock  of  stone.  This  h^  showed  them  and  the 
whole  party  returned  disgusted,  weary  and  ragged,  but  the 
Indian  was  seen  no  more.  From  that  time  to  1855  persistent 
efforts  were  made  by  the  early  settlers  to  discover  the  deposits 
from  which  this  native  silver  came,  but  without  success. 
Vein  rock  was  found  in  the  river  bed  and  on  the  beach,  con- 
taining native  silver,  but  its  hiding  place  was  not  discovered 
till  that  year,  when  Mr.  Austin  Corser  found  an  outcropping 
of  a  vein  carrying  native  silver  in  Little  Iron  River,  about 
one  mile  west  of  Big  Iron  River.  He  continued  his  examin- 
ation till  he  found  the  vein  in  place,  traced  it  across  the  river 


254  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

and  became  satisfied  it  was  a  valuable  discovery.  The  land, 
however,  at  that  time,  could  not  be  obtained,  it  being  one 
of  the  odd-numbered  sections  and  reserved  in  a  grant  for  the 
Ontonagon  and  State  Line  Railroad  Company.  Nothing 
daunted,  however,  Mr.  Corser  erected  a  log  shanty,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  removed  his  family  into  it,  and  for 
many  years  endured  all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  a 
backwoods  life,  confident  the  time  would  come  when  the 
discovery  would  be  valuable.  Fortunately  for  him,  and 
indeed  the  whole  district,  the  company  failed  to  build 
the  road,  the  land  reverted  to  the  United  States,  and  came 
into  market.  Mr.  Corser  was  then  able  to  file  a  homestead 
claim  upon  it,  and  began  at  once  to  prove  up  the  property 
and  make  further  explorations.  His  trials,  privations,  and 
long  waiting  were  at  last  rewarded.  His  homestead,  the 
scene  of  his  first  discovery,  he  sold  to  a  party  of  eastern 
capitalists  for  a  large  sum,  ample  to  reward  him  for  his  trou- 
ble and  make  him  and  his  family  comfortable  for  life.  The 
land  is  that  on  which  the  Scrariton  Mining  Company  was  or- 
ganized, being  the  west  half  of  the  west  half  of  section  thirteen, 
town  fifty-one,  range  forty-two  west.  After  long  and  care- 
full  explorations  Mr.  Corser  found  a  vein  outcropping  on  Big 
Iron  River  similar  in  appearance  to  that  on  Little  Iron 
River,  and  upon  close  examinations  he  found  it  to  be  rich  in 
native  silver.  Being  on  Government  land,  he  presented  the 
facts  to  some  parties  who  immediately  purchased  it.  This 
was  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  thirteen,  town  fifty-one, 
north,  of  range  fifty-two  west.  This  was  tne  commencement 
of  the  land  excitement.  All  the  government  land  within 
several  miles  was  quickly  purchased,  but  winter  set  in  soon 
after  and  prevented  any  very  thorough  examination  of  the 
country.  Examinations  were,  however,  made  by  a  few  min- 
ing men,  of  the  vein  that  outcropped  on  Iron  River,  at  the 
point  above  mentioned.  It  was  found  to  be  partly  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  thirteen,  and  partly  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  twenty-four,  by  the  government 
survey  lines.  Its  course,  to  an  ordinary  observer  was  due 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  255 

east  and  west,  but  further  and  more  accurate  examinations 
proved  its  actual  course  at  this  point  to  be  a  few  degrees 
north  of  west  and  south  of  east. 

At  this  time  excitement  began  to  run  high.  Every  fortu- 
nate owner  of  land  in  the  district  penciled  out  in  his  own 
imagination  the  course  of  the  vein  through  his  property,  and 
considerable  land  was  entered  wild,  without  any  reference  to 
its  mineral  value.  Companies  were  organized  and  stock  sold 
in  several  instances  at  good  figures  (for  the  seller),  and  it  is 
only  charitable  to  suppose  that  all  these  transactions  were  in 
good  faith.  Specimens  were  eagerly  sought  for,  and  assays 
made  by  parties  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  with- 
out a  single  exception,  found  to  be  rich  in  silver.  One  of  the 
first  assays  made  after  the  discovery  of  the  vein  was  made 
by  Prof.  Jenney,  of  Marquette,  the  assayer  attached  to  the 
State  geological  surveying  party,  and  yielded  $206,40  of  silver 
per  ton  of  rock.  Another  assay  was  made  at  the  United  States 
mint,  at  Philadelphia,  and  yielded  $185  silver  per  ton  of  rock, 
with  traces  of  gold  and  lead.  Three  assays  were  also  made 
by  Mr.  Ropes,  analytical  chemist  of  Ishpeming,  Marquette 
county,  the  first  of  which  yielded  $296.86,  the  second  $116.69, 
and  the  third  $57.38  silver  per  ton  of  rock.  Another  assay 
was  made  from  thirteen  pounds  of  vein  rock  and  yielded 
$1,702.45  of  silver  per  ton.  This  was  certainly  a  very  large 
yield,  and  encouraged  the  owners  of  property.  Of  course, 
there  were  plenty  that  doubted  the  value  and  even  existence 
of  the  vein,  but  the  facts  were  too  plain  even  for  the  most 
stubborn.  Its  friends  rightly  claimed  that  these  assays  were 
the  only  criterion  they  had  to  go  by  of  the  actual  value  of 
the  vein,  and  these  certainly  could  not  be  doubted  or  gain- 
said. The  next  important  assay  was  from  a  shipment  of  sev- 
eral tons  of  rock  from  the  vein  on  the  Superior  mining  com- 
pany's property,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  twenty- 
four,  town  51,  range  42,  to  the  Wyandotte  silver  works,  at 
Wyandotte,  near  Detroit,  in  this  State,  The  following  is  the 


256  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

OFFICIAL  CERTIFICATE: 

ASSAY  OFFICE  OF  WYANDOTTE  SILVER  ) 

SMELTING  AND  REFINING  COMPANY,  x 

WYANDOTTE,  Mich.,  Aug.  9,  1873.  ) 

We  hereby  certify  that  the  ore  said  to  be  taken  from  the  Superior 
mine,  assayed  for  Mr.  Moore,  yields: 

No.  1,  silver  159  oz.  fine,  $206.72  coin  value  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds. 
No.  2,  silver  9  oz.  fine,  $11.70  coin  value  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds. 
No.  3,  silver  458.8  oz.  fine,  $596.44  coin  value  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds. 
No.  4,  silver  1,320  oz.  fine,  $1,716  coin  value  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds- 
REMARKS. — No  gold  in  Nos.  1  and  2;  others  not  examined  for  gold. 
J.  B.  CLEVELAND,  Assayer.  W.  M.  CURTIS,  Supt. 

These  results  were  most  gratifying  and  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  capitalists  and  mining  men  from  all  parts  of  the 
country.  Since  then  the  vein  has  been  examined  by  miners 
and  experts  who  have  had  considerable  experience  with  silver 
veins  in  the  west,  in  South  America,  Mexico  and  Germany, 
and  all  agree  that  it  is  a  true  silver  vein  or  stratification,  and  are 
unanimous  in  the  opinion  that  it  will  increase  in  richness  as 
greater  depth  is  attained.  This  opinion  so  far  has  been  verified 
by  the  work  done  on  the  vein  at  the  several  mines. 

The  location  of  this  silver  discovery  is  011  Iron  River,  one 
of  whose  branches  is  an  outlet  for  Lake  A-go-ge-bic;  its  gen- 
eral course  is  northeast  and  southwest,  and  its  waters  rapid. 
The  stream  passes  through  some  wild  and  picturesque  scenery, 
its  waters  running  over  the  different  stratification  of  rocks 
which  are  exposed  in  several  parts  of  the  river.  It  empties 
into  Lake  Superior  in  section  12,  township  51,  north  range 
52  west.  At  the  mouth  the  water  is  deep,  allowing  boats 
drawing  five  feet  of  water  to  enter.  Above  this  the  river  is 
not  navigable  even  for  canoes.  The  slate  formation  near  its 
mouth  takes  a  serpentine  course,  and  has  given  rise  to  many 
theories  and  queries.  To  the  east  and  west  of  the  river  the 
formations  all  seem  to  be  regular;  the  sandstone,  conglom- 
erate, slates  and  trap  all  follow  the  formation  in  regular  order. 
The  land  near  the  mouth  where  the  silver  mines  are  located 
is  heavily  timbered  with  birch,  maple,  hemlock,  pine  and  fir, 
and  the  soil  good,  capable  of  producing  all  the  necessaries  of 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  257 

life.  To  the  west  of  Iron  River  rises  the  Porcupine  Moun- 
tains, attaining  an  elevation  of  one  thousand  three  hundred 
and  eighty  feet.  The  district  is  rich  in  copper  veins,  and 
was  the  scene  of  some  of  the  earliest  mining  on  Lake  Supe- 
rior; but  all  discoveries  of  copper  veins  were  discarded,  as 
the  work  was  carried  on  exclusively  for  silver.  Several  large 
spar  veins  were  discovered  and  worked,  but  as  far  as  known 
have  yielded  no  metal.  The  copper  veins,  however,  discov- 
ered and  worked  by  the  early  miners,  and  by  those  of  more 
recent  date,  are  among  the  most  valuable  discovered  on  the 
Upper  Peninsula,  and  are  only  waiting  the  advent  of  capital 
and  a  more  easy,  certain  and  cheaper  mode  of  ingress  and 
egress  to  the  district  to  be  developed.  This  day,  from  present 
appearances,  is  now  close  at  hand.  The  remarkable  severity 
of  the  fall  of  1872,  and  the  early  setting  in  of  winter,  pre- 
vented the  commencement  of  work  on  any  of  the  properties. 
Nothing  daunted,  however,  a  few  capitalists  of  Marquette 
concluded  to  venture  the  commencement  of  work  in  the 
month  of  March,  1873,  on  the  north  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  19,  town  51,  range  41,  on  which  a  com- 
pany was  organized,  styled  the 

ONTONAGON  SILVER  MINING  COMPANY. 

Work  was  commenced  on  the  ground  when  it  was  covered 
with  four  feet  of  snow,  in  a  section  of  country  perfectly  iso- 
lated, no  roads  to  reach  it,  and  not  a  single  person  living 
there.  All  their  supplies,  provisions,  tools  and  camping  ma- 
terial had  to  be  hauled  from  Ontonagon  on  dog  trains,  or 
packed  up  on  men's  backs.  The  men  were  made  as  comfort- 
able as  circumstances  would  admit,  in  a  brush  camp.  The 
point  selected  for  their  operations  was  the  extreme  northwest 
corner  of  the  property,  near  the  dividing  line  of  sections  18, 
19,  13  and  24.  Three  test-pits  were  sunk  to  the  slate,  which 
proved  that  they  were  too  far  north.  At  length,  however,  in 
four  weeks  from  the  time  they  commenced  work,  they  struck 
the  vein  about  twenty  rods  south  from  the  east  and  west  line 
and  near  the  north  and  south  line  of  their  property.  It  oc- 


258  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

cupied  the  same  geological  position  as  at  the  outcrop  on  Iron 
River,  at  the  junction  of  the  slate  and  sandstone,  having  the 
slate  for  the  north  wall  and  the  sandstone  for  the  south  or 
foot  wall.  Its  dip,  apparently,  was  about  the  same,  being 
about  28°  to  the  north  and  a  little  east  of  north.  The  width 
of  the  vein  was  the  same,  being  about  eighteen  inches  wide, 
and  fully  as  rich  in  native  silver  as  the  specimens  obtained  in 
Iron  River.  The  fact  of  the  vein  being  found  some  fifteen 
rods  to  the  east  of  its  outcropping  in  Iron  River,  seemed  to 
prove  conclusively  that  it  was  a  continuous  one. 

In  that  year  land  was  cleared,  roads  made  and  buildings 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  miners.  Capt.  Thos. 
Hooper  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  mine,  and  under  his  di- 
rection a  working  shaft  was  sunk  to  a  depth  of  about  125  feet  on 
the  vein.  From  the  bottom  of  this  shaft  drifts  were  made 
east  and  west  on  the  vein,  and  some  .two  or  three  hundred 
tons  of  silver  bearing  rock  taken  out.  In  1873  the  company 
believing  that  they  had  sufficiently  proved  the  value  of  their 
property,  abandoned  work  until  such  time  as  they  might  be 
able  to  secure  the  erection  of  a  mill  for  the  treatment  of  the 
vein  rock.  A  small  stamp  mill  was  erected  in  1874-'5  and  a 
practical  test  was  made  in  June  or  July  of  that  year,  result- 
ing most  satisfactorily  to  all  concerned.  About  22  tons  of 
rock  mined  in  1873  was  treated,  from  which  a  brick  weighing 
36  pounds  was  obtained,  equal  to  $33  per  ton  of  rock.  The 
following  is  the  official  report  of  Prof.  Crosby,  the  gentleman 
who  put  the  mill  in  operation  and  made  the  first  tests : 

ONTONAGON  SILVER  WORKS,  ) 
IRON  RIVER,  July  22,  1875     j" 
TERRENCE  MOORE,  ESQ.,  Pres't  Ontonagon  Silver  Co. : 

Dear  Sir: — I  respectfully  submit  the  following  brief  report  of  the 
trial  run  just  finished  at  the  company's  mill.  The  mill  was  put  in 
motion  on  the  5th  inst.,  but  owing  to  difficulties  incident  to  the  start- 
ing  of  new  machinery,  the  run  was  not  completed  till  the  20th.  The 
rock  treated  was  a  lot  of  twentj^-two  tons  taken  as  it  came  from  the 
mine.  The  result  was  523  ounces  of  fine  bullion,  nearly  24  ounces 
per  ton.  Not  having  proper  assay  fixtures  I  could  not  determine  its 
fineness  and  coin  value,  but  I  estimate  it  at  950  fine,  and  its  currency 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  259 

value  at  $7o4.00.  The  mill  is  now  in  good  condition,  the  only  draw- 
back to  its  efficiency  being  its  small  capacity.  A  twenty-stamp  mill 
could  reduce  the  ore  at  less  than  half  the  cost  per  ton  that  this  five- 
stamp  mill  can  treat  it  for.  Respectfully  yours,  F.  W.  CROSBY. 

Mr.  Crosby  is  a  gentleman  of  rare  experience  and  ability, 
having  been  engaged  for  many  years  in  the  treatment  of  the 
silver  ores  of  Colorado  and  other  western  districts. 

Mr.  Crosby  has  also  furnished  the  following  detailed  esti- 
mate of  the  "  cost  of  treating  such  ores  as  those  of  the  On- 
tonagoii  district,"  with  works  having  a  capacity  of  40  tons 
per  day  of  24  hours.  To  reduce,  he  says,  forty  tons  per  day 
will  require  a  20-stamp  mill.  The  cost  of  operating  such  a 
mill  would  be  as  follows: 

LABOR. 

One  superintendent  $  5  00 

One  foreman 3  50 

One  machinist 3  00 

One  retorter  and  smelter. ...   3  00 

Two  engineers,  $2.50  each 5  00 

Two  amalgamators  $3  each 6  00 

Two  assistant  amalgamators  $2  each 4  00 

Two  stamp  feeders,  $2  each 4  00 

Two  rock  breakers,  $2  each 4  00 

Two  roustabouts,  $2  each t...  4  00 

Total  for  labor $  41  50 

OTHER    EXPENSES. 

Four  cords  wood $    8  00 

Oil,  lights,  etc 2  00 

Salt  and  chemicals 25  00 

Loss  of  mercury,  %  Ib.  per  ton  ore . .     30  00 

Charcoal 100 

Wear  and  incidentals 5  00 


Total $113  50 

Which  would  be  $2.80  per  ton!  "This,"  says  Mr.  Crosby, 
''seems  like  a  low  estimate,  but  it  covers  every  item  except 
interest  on  capital." 

The  cost  of  mining  will  not  necessarily  exceed  $2.50  per 
ton,  and  this  being  the  case  it  is  easy  for  any  one  to  arrive  at 
a  conclusion  as  to  whether  silver  bearing  rock  which  can  be 
made  to  yield  from  $30  to  $50  per  ton  will  pay  to  work.  Tak- 
ing the  average  of  the  8  tests  which  have  been  made — 


260  MINERAL    RESOURCES 


per  ton — and  it  will  be  seen  that  the  net  earnings  of  a 
twenty-stamp  mill  would  be  over  §1,400  per  day,  or  over  half 
a  million  a  year.  Mr.  Crosby's  estimate  further  shows  that 
the  veins  would  pay  handsomely  if  the  average  yield  of  sil- 
ver was  not  over  $15  per  ton. 

The  next  test  made  was  of  rock  from  the  Scranton  mine, 
which  is  situated  nearly  two  miles  west  of  the  Ontonagon. 
Four  and  a  half  tons  of  rock  were  put  through  the  mill,  giv- 
ing a  yield  of  163  ounces  of  silver,  950  fine— equal  to  $45.27 
per  ton  coin  value.  At  this  mine  a  perpendicular  shaft  strikes 
the  vein  at  a  depth  of  300  feet  on  the  dip  or  incline,  from 
the  bottom  of  which  shaft  was  taken  the  rock  treated  at  the 
mill. 

The  Collins  mine  is  on  the  north  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  25.  Here  the  vein  was  found  outcrop- 
ping in  the  river  near  the  northwest  corner  of  the  tract. 
The  general  appearance  of  the  vein  is  precisely  the  same  as 
on  sections  thirteen  and  nineteen,  one  mile  to  the  north,  oc- 
cupying the  same  geological  position  in  the  formation,  but  its 
course  is  entirely  different,  being  northeast  and  southwest, 
and  the  dip  southeast.  After  an  examination  of  the  vein  at 
the  outcrop  a  shaft  was  sunk  away  from  the  bank  of  the 
river  perpendicularly  through  the  overlying  formation  till  it 
reached  the  vein,  which  looked  well,  carrying  considerable 
native  silver.  During  the  past  year  considerable  work  has 
been  done  on  this  property,  with  the  most  gratifying  results, 
so  far  as  proving  the  extent  and  value  of  the  deposit  is  con- 
cerned. The  vein  matter  is,  apparently,  very  rich  in  native 
silver,  but  owing  to  a  lack  of  means  the  company  was  com- 
pelled to  abandon  operations. 

South  of  the  Collins,  on  the  south  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  25,  is  the  Cleveland  silver  mine,  at  which 
point  more  practical  mining  work  has  been  done  than  at 
any  other  place  in  the  district.  A  perpendicular  or  down- 
right shaft  cut  the  vein  at  a  depth  of  136  feet,  at  a  point  con- 
siderably over  300  feet  from  the  outcrop,  on  the  dip  or  incline. 
Specimens  of  vein  matter  from  the  bottom  of  this  shaft  are 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  261 


very  rich  in  native  silver — apparently  much  richer  than  any 
that  has  been  tested  at  the  mill.  The  company  have  shipped  ten 
tons  of  this  rock  to  be  treated  by  specific  gravity  in  Frues1  im- 
proved vanning  machines,  at  Silver  Islet.  It  is  believed  by  many 
that  this  is  the  only  proper  plan  for  treating  the  IronRiver  silver 
bearing  rock,  and  should  the  test  prove  successful  it  is  highly 
probable  that  the  amalgamating  process  will  be  abandoned. 
There  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  presence  of  silver  in  paying 
quantities,  at  every  point  where  the  vein,  or  veins,  have  been 
opened — the  problem  is  how  to  extract  it.  This  problem 
solved,  it  is  confidently  believed  all  doubts  as  to  the  future  of 
the  district  will  have  been  put  to  rest. 

The  other  properties  upon  which  the  vein  has  been  opened, 
is  the  Superior  mine,  which  embraces  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  24,  the  Mammoth,  on  the  east  half  of  the  west 
half  of  section  13,  and  the  Pittsburg  Silver  Co.'s  mine,  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  34,  town  50,  north  of  range 
42  west. 

The  work  at  the  Superior  is  embraced  in  an  adit  into  the 
hill  from  the  river  bank,  from  which  adit  was  taken  the  rock 
treated  at  the  Wyandotte  works,  the  report  of  which  has 
been  given.  A  subsequent  test  of  vein  matter  from  the  Su- 
perior adit,  made  at  the  Ontonagoii  Company's  mill,  gave  as 
the  result  from  five  tons  of  rock  224  ounces,  Troy,  equal  to 
$56  per  ton. 

Very  little  work  has  been  done  at  the  Mammoth — only 
enough  to  show  that  the  vein  crosses  the  tract. 

The  Pittsburgh,  which  lies  some  six  or  seven  miles  south 
•of  the  others,  was  discovered  in  June,  1873,  by  an  outcrop  in 
.a  small  stream.  The  vein  does  not  have  the  appearance  of 
a  mineral  bearing  rock  but  from  its  relation  to  the  other 
rocks,  and  its  partial  conformation  with  those  of  the  Iron 
River  district,  the  party  by  whom  it  was  discovered  was  led 
to  believe  that  the  matrix  contained  silver,  which  belief  was 
afterwards  confirmed.  The  direction  of  the  vein  is  about 
35°  south  of  east,  and  it  has  a  dip  of  80°  to  the  southwest. 
The  average  width  as  far  as  opened  is  about  6£  feet.  The  first 


262  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

analyses  of  the  rock  were  made  by  Prof.  A.  B.  Prescott,  of  Ann 
Arbor,  and  gave  from  §17  to  $119.  In  the  summer  of  1875, 
a  test  was  made  at  the  Ontonagon  Co.'s  mill,  which  gave 
$27.38  per  ton  from  unassorted  rock,  taken  from  the  whole 
width  of  the  vein,  over  a  space  of  it  20  feet  in  length. 
There  have  been  several  opinions  advanced  in  respect  to  this 
formation,  but  probably  the  most  reliable  is  that  of  Charles 
E.  Wright,  M.  E.,  who  claims  that  the  matrix  is  an  argillaceous 
plumbaginous  slate,  the  hanging  wall  being  the  Pottsdam 
sandstone.  He  is  not  certain  of  its  origin,  but  thinks  that 
it  is  an  older  formation  than  the  overlying  sand  rock — that 
is,  instead  of  being  on  the  Pottsdam  sandstone,  it  lies  under 
it.  The  only  work  done  at  the  mine  was  the  driving  of  an 
adit  about  20  feet,  from  which  about  five  tons  of  rock  was 
mined. 

Prof.  Charles  Rominger,  of  the  State  Geological  survey, 
made  an  examination  of  the  Iron  River  district  in  the  fall 
of  1875,  and  made  the  following  written  report: 

"The  silver-bearing  rock,  generally  termed  a  vein,  is  actu- 
ally a  sedimentary  rock  stratum,  spreading  uniformly  over 
a  wide  space  of  ground  which  forms  the  less  elevated  belt  of 
land  in  front  of  the  Porcupine  mountains,  and  the  higher 
trap  range  of  the  Ontonagon  copper  mining  district.  The 
age  of  the  silver  bearing  beds  is  decidedly  younger  than  that 
of  the  copper  belt,  but  it  has  participated  in  the  upheavals  of 
that  period,  and  the  originally  horizontal  beds  have  been 
elevated  into  a  complicated  chaos  of  more  or  less  inclined  po- 
sitions, keeping  a  general  conformity  with  the  strike  and  dip 
of  the  higher  ranges,  but  locally  subject  to  a  great  many 
minor  disturbances,  which  cause  it  to  be  found  dipping  in 
various  opposite  directions,  with  abrupt  breaks  in  the  strike, 
or  bending  in  large  curves  out  of  the  straight  course.  The 
out-crops  of  the  formation  are  almost  exclusively  confined 
to  the  river  beds  or  deep  ravines;  on  the  rest  of  the  surface 
heavy  drift  deposits  are  hiding  the  rock  ledges  from  view, 
and  prevent  their  discovery  except  by  expensive  exploring 
ditches;  however,  there  is  not  the  least  doubt  of  finding  the 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  263 

rock  beds  under  consideration,  in  every  portion  of  the  radi- 
cated district,  if  we  undertake  to  dig  deep  enough  to  uncover 
it.  The  silver-bearing  rock  is  a  gray,  compact,  well-stratified 
sandstone,  interlaminated  with  undulating  thin  seams  of  a 
black,  shaly  material,  which  contains  the  principal  part  of 
the  silver  in  metallic  condition.  The  sand-rock  itself  is  also 
silver-bearing,  but  much  poorer  than  the  shaly  seams,  so  that 
only  in  rare  instances  silver  can  be  detected  in  it  by  the 
naked  eye.  The  thickness  of  the  strata  is  from  two  to  six 
feet.  Their  footwall  is  formed  by  a  brown  sandstone  of  great 
thickness,  often  having  the  character  of  a  conglomerate. 
The  hanging  wall  of  the  metalliferous  beds  is  formed  by  a 
blue  arginaceo- arenaceous  rock  generally  termed  slate,  but 
not  of  the  fissile  structure  of  true  slate.  Usually  it  lias  the 
form  of  thin-bedded,  easy  decaying  flag-stone.  Some  beds 
are  more  compact,  and  often  contain  a  large  proportion  of 
calcareous  cement.  The  visible  thickness  of  this  overlying 
so-called  slate  rock  amounts  in  many  places  to  over  one  thou- 
sand feet.  Only  a  few  feet  above  the  silver-bearing  sand- 
rock  there  is  another  series  of  metalliferous  beds,  containing 
finely  comminuted  metallic  copper  in  astonishing  quantity. 
The  Nonesuch  mine  is  working  these,  and  if  it  were  not  for 
the  great  loss  of  metal  in  working  the  stamped  rock,  I  should 
consider  this  mine  even  wealthier  than  the  famous  Calumet 
&  Hecla  mines,  which  are  unsurpassed  in  the  world.  In  all 
the  exploring  shafts  of  the  silver  mining  companies  this 
same  bed  has  been  noticed,  but  not  everywhere  equally  rich 
in  copper. 

"  It  is  stated  above  that  the  silver  in  the  rock  is  contained 
in  metallic  condition;  but  a  not  inconsiderable  additional 
quantity  of  the  precious  metal  is  combined  in  the  sulphur,  and 
makes  part  of  the  black,  shaly  substance  pervading  the  rock 
in  linear  seams.  Several  tests  on  a  large  scale  have  been 
made  with  the  silver-bearing  rock  mass,  taking  for  the  experi- 
ments, without  selection,  the  entire  thickness  of  the  so-called 
vein,  and  the  results  have  been  very  favorable.  In  each  ex- 
periment several  tons  of  the  rock  have  been  stamped  and 


264  MINERAL  RESOURCES 


subjected  to  the  amalgamating  process,  which  evidently  was 
not  carried  out  to  perfection,  but  still  the  results  proved  very 
satisfactory.  The  rock  of  three  different  localities,  treated 
in  this  way,  yielded  from  forty  to  forty-five  dollars'  worth  of 
silver  for  every  ton  of  rock. 

u  The  brown  sandstone  forming  the  footwall,  if  found  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  blue-colored  slate-like  rock  of  the  hanging 
wall,  serves  always  as  a  good  guide  for  the  explorer;  more  risky 
it  is  to  rely  on  the  explorations  to  follow  the  direction  of 
the  strike  of  the  strata  from  places  of  outcrops  into  territo- 
ries where  the  rock  is  covered  by  drift,  on  account  of  the 
frequent  disturbances  and  breaks  in  the  strata.  The  mining 
of  the  rock  is  neither  difficult  nor  expensive,  and  if  carried 
on  with  reasonable  economy  and  circumspection  will  cer- 
tainly return  a  large  margin  of  profits  to  those  engaged  in  its 
development;  otherwise,  the  history  of  our  mining  districts 
have  clearly  shown  that  even  the  richest  deposits  of  mineral 
wealth  are  not  sufficient  to  prevent  disastrous  consequences 
and  total  failures  of  companies,  if  speculation  and  misman- 
agement are  exerting  their  deleterious  force." 

Work  was  continued  at  the  Ontonagon  mine  during  a  part 
of  the  winter  of  1875,  but  the  results  at  the  mill  were  not 
satisfactory,  and  operations  were  suspended.  There  has  been 
a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  cause  of  the  failure;  some 
insist  that  those  in  charge  of  the  mill  were  incapable  of 
achieving  a  true  result,  while  others  give,  the  credit  to  the 
mine  and  the  absence  of  silver.  However  this  may  be,  the 
true  friends  of  the  district  are  not  despondent,  and  the 
Cleveland  and  Collins  companies  have  continued  the  work  of 
development,  as  if  certain  of  future  rewards.  The  writer 
does  not  venture  an  opinion  other  than  that  enough  has  been 
done  to  warrant  still  further  research  and  experiment,  believ- 
ing that  the  only  problem  to  be  solved  is  the  best  and  most 
effective  process  for  treating  the  vein  rock. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  265 


SLATE. 

Among  the  material  and  most  valuable  resources  of  the 
Lake  Superior  country,  slate  is  now  taking  rank.  Long  since 
it  was  known  that  large  deposits  of  slate  were  lying  in  the 
hills  east  of  Huron  Bay,  but  the  country  being  almost  inac- 
cessible, except  by  water,  and  explorers  being  attracted  by 
what  was  considered  the  more  valuable  products  of  iron  and 
-copper,  Avere  not  tempted  to  investigate  the  resources  of  the 
slate  country.  But  by  and  by  a  few  adventurous  and  cour- 
ageous men  concluded  that  if  copper  found  in  a  wilderness, 
or  iron  found  in  a  wilderness,  could  be  so  manipulated,  with 
the  aid  of  transportation  facilities,  as  to  bring  wealth  to  those 
who  were  first  to  present  these  minerals  to  the  market,  and 
wealth  to  the  scores  who  were  led  to  follow  the  lead  of  the 
pioneers,  that  slate  might  also  be  made  a  medium  of  pros- 
perity. But  it  was  not  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  slate,  or  of  the  quality  which  they  had  discovered, 
that  those  men  commenced  their  movements.  They  scarcely 
knew  what  they  had  found — whether  it  was  a  slate  of  an 
indifferent  or  of  a  superior  character.  But  they  resolved 
upon  a  test,  and  accordingly  Thos.  J.  Brown,  of  Marquette, 
accompanied  by  Win.  T.  Kennedy,  of  Pittsburgh,  and  an 
Indian,  as  a  man  of  all  work,  attempted,  in  November,  1871,  to 
pack  out  a  few  hundred  pounds  of  the  slate  and  have  it  sub- 
mitted to  test.  S.  C.  Smith,  the  veteran  explorer,  had  previ- 
ously, in  July,  1868,  visited  the  locality  and  carried  away  a 
quantity  of  the  slate,  which  he  shipped  to  Vermont  for  the 
inspection  of  those  posted  in  such  matters. 

Geographically,  the  belt  lies  midway  between  the  copper 
and  iron  deposits;  geologically,  it  is  a  later  deposit  than  the 
copper  measures  and  older  than  the  iron  of  the  Marquette 


266  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

range.  No  estimate  of  the  length,  depth  and  breadth  of  the 
belt  can  at  present  be  satisfactorily  made.  In  township  51 
north  of  range  31  west,  the  breadth  of  the  belt  is  believed  to 
be  two  and  a  half  miles,  but  the  length  has  not  been  fully 
explored.  It  is  evident  that  the  same  belt  appears  in  the 
Ontonagon  silver  district,  while  outcrops  have  been  discovered 
twelve  miles  to  the  east  of  the  present  quarries.  It  does  not, 
however,  follow  that  all  the  slate  covering  this  wide  stretch  of 
country  can  be  denominated  good  roofing  slates;  on  the  con- 
trary, slates  free  from  joints  and  impurities  are  not  easy  to 
find. 

Meanwhile,  the  lands  had  been  purchased,  and  subsequently 
a  company  was  organized  to  quarry  slate  in  township  51, 
range  31.  The  company  is  organized  as  follows: 

President,  W.  L.  WETMORE,  Marquette;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  H.  A.  DOWNS,  Marquette;  Superintendent, 
JOHN  THOMAS;  Directors,  PETER  WHITE,  S.  L.  SMITH,  THOS. 
J.  BROWN,  Marquette,  D.  W.  C.  WHEELER,  JAS.  MCDONALD, 
New  York. 

The  organization  was  effected  in  October,  1872.  Toward 
the  last  part  of  that  month,  Mr.  Williams,  the  first  superin- 
tendent, reported  for  duty,  and  with  a  brush  shanty,  and 
eighteen  miles  of  primitive  forest  through  which  to  haul  his 
supplies,  commenced  the  development  of  what  is  now  acknowl- 
edged to  be  the  finest  slate  quarry  in  the  world. 

Operations  were  first  commenced  on  a  bed  of  slate  which 
seemed  to  be  inexhaustible,  and  of  finest  working  quality,  but 
which  was  found  to  be  laminated  with  mundic,  or  arsenical 
pyrites — an  ingredient  which  does  not  injure  the  value  of  the 
slate  any  farther  than  the  appearance  of  the  light  flakes 
might  affect  the  sale. 

Further  explorations  were  made  on  the  same  vein  in  an 
adjoining  neighborhood,  where  a  clear,  pure,  beautiful  slate 
was  found,  and  this  is  the  quarry  which  is  now  being  princi- 
pally worked.  Details  as  to  location  are  of  no  interest  to  the 
general  reader,  therefore  we  omit  distances  and  points  of 
compass  in  the  several  explorations  and  openings. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  26T 

Of  the  quality  of  this  slate,  little  nee4  be  said,  since  it  is 
now  so  well  known  and  appreciated,  that  architects  in  nearly 
all  the  western  cities  insert  it  in  their  specifications.  It  is 
blasted  out  in  angular  shape,  without  reference  to  regularity 
as  to  cubes  or  slabs,  and  afterward  broken  into  tablets  of  con- 
venient size  for  splitting.  As  it  comes  from  the  quarry  it  is 
uniformly  of  the  same  quality,  and  the  proportion  of  it  which 
is  used  depends  altogether  upon  the  shape  it  assumes  whilst 
being  broken  into  tablets.  The  cleavers  say  they  have  never 
handled  a  slate,  in  Wales  or  the  United  States,  upon  which 
they  could  make  as  good  wages,  for  instead  of  being  com- 
pelled to  crease  or  trench  the  edge  of  a  tablet  to  split  off  a 
shingle,  but  one  movement  and  one  position  of  the  chisel, 
with  a  few  taps  of  the  mallet,  is  necessary  to  separate  a  plate, 
like  separating  two  panes  of  glass  which  have  been  but  slightly 
pasted  together.  The  surface  of  the  sheets  is  almost  as  regu- 
lar and  smooth  as  if  they  had  been  planed;  and  the  sheets, 
however  thin,  will  stand  very  rough  handling  without  break- 
ing, and  are  pitched  about  like  wooden  shingles.  It  is  of  a 
blue-black  color,  and  gives  off  a  sound,  upon  being  tapped, 
like  hollow  crockery. 

The  product  of  the  quarry  is  shipped  over  a  three-foot  tram- 
railway  to  Huron  Bay,  a  distance  of  4^  miles.  At  the  bay, 
the  company  have  a  dock  which  extends  600  feet  into  the 
water  and  has  a  front  of  100  feet. 

The  company  is  employing  from  40  to  60  men,  and  com- 
menced shipments  this  season  from  a  stock  of  500  squares  of 
roofing  slate,  and  with  orders  for  3,000  squares.  They  make 
24  sizes,  and  find  a  ready  market  for  their  entire  product,  in 
St.  Paul,  Minneapolis,  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  Detroit. 
Some  of  the  best  buildings  in  Chicago  and  Milwaukee  are 
covered  with  the  Huron  Bay  slate,  among  them  the  Chicago 
and  Northwestern  Railway  shops,  the  new  club  house,  and 
several  churches. 

It  is  not  roofing  slate  alone  for  which  this  material  is  use- 
ful, but  every  purpose  for  which  slate  is  used.  The  waste 
from  the  quarry  in  the  production  of  roofing  slate  could  be  so 


268  MINERAL   RESOURCES 

utilized  for  the  manufacture  of  tiles,  lamp  bottoms,  and  the 
like,  to  pay  all  expenses  of  the  quarry.  And  for  mantels,  fire 
fronts,  table  tops,  imposing  slabs,  and  such  purposes,  it  is 
only  second  to  marble.  That  a  large  business  in  these  lines 
will  be  done  at  these  quarries  when  machinery  has  been 
placed  to  handle  the  material,  there  is  no  doubt.  The  Com- 
pany is  considering  the  question  of  putting  in  such  ma- 
chinery, and  it  will  probably  be  added  at  an  early  da}^. 


quarry  is  situated  on  a  tract  which  embraces  the  west  half  of 
section  8,  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33,  town  51, 
north  of  range  31  west.  The  Company  was  organized  in 
1874,  with  a  capital  of  8500.000,  divided  into  20,000  shares  of 
§25  each.  President,  DsWiTT  C.  WHEELER,  of  New  York; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  JAMES  H.  SEAGER,  Houghton,  and 
Superintendent,  R.  R.  WILLIAMS.  The  quarry,  as  now  opened, 
lies  on  the  township  line  between  sections  28  and  33.  To 
the  north  and  east,  about  1,000  feet,  is  the  Huron  Bay  Slate 
Company's  quarry,  and  the  slate  out-crops  here  and  there 
between  the  two. 

A  shaft  has  been  sunk  in  the  slate  at  the  Clinton  to  a  depth 
of  forty  feet.  The  shaft — or,  as  the  slaters  or  scalpers  call  it, 
"  the  loose  si$e  and  back  " — is  about  fifty  feet  square  at  pres- 
ent, and  it  is  being  constantly  enlarged  and  deepened.  It  is 
the  intention  to  carry  this  loose  side  and  back  down  into  the 
slate  a  sufficient  depth  to  admit  of  a  goodly  number  of  stop- 
ing  parties  on  the  several  layers  or  strata  of  slate.  When 
once  down,  a  large  force  may  be  employed  in  quarrying  out 
the  sla.te,  in  steps.  During  the  time  consumed  in  working 
out  the  loose  side  and  back,  quite  a  large  quantity  of  slate 
has  been  made,  and  is  now  ready  for  shipment.  In  quality, 
the  slate  is  pronounced  by  competent  judges,  to  be  equal  to 
the  best  slate  products  of  Maine.  It  is  a  dark,  indelible  blue, 
free  from  mundic  and  sulphate  of  iron,  and  the  joints  are  far 
apart.  As  the  shaft  descends,  the  slate  grows  denser  and 
purer.  So  far,  the  slate  at  the  Clinton  is  pronounced  the 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.     •  269 


softest  yet  found,  which  permits  a  freer  cleavage  and  thinner 
slates. 

An  erroneous  impression  has  obtained  heretofore,  concern- 
ing the  dip  of  the  beds,  by  confounding  the  dip  with  the 
cleavage.  On  sinking,  it  has  been  ascertained  that  the  beds 
slightly  incline  to  the  north,  while  the  cleavage  is  to  the 
south.  It  is  now  believed  that  the  bed  lies  in  a  basin.  At 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  bed  a  vein  of  lean  iron  ore  out- 
crops; and  a  rock,  identical  in  appearance  to  the  wall-rock  of 
the  Ontonagon  silver  vein,  has  been  found,  from  which  fact, 
it  is  believed  it  may  not  be  impossible  to  discover  somewhere 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  slate  formation,  on  the  transverse  veins, 
a  prolific  silver  lode.  Explorations,  with  this  aim  in  view, 
will  be  made,  and  it  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  efforts  of 
the  faithful  in  this  regard,  will  be  crowned  with  success. 

The  tram-road  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  Huron 
Bay  quarry,  has  been  extended  to  the  Clinton,  and  a  force  of 
men  has  been  kept  constantly  employed  in  the  quarry  ever 
since  the  first  opening  was  made.  Up  'to  the  close  of  naviga- 
tion in  1875,  the  Clinton  Company  had  made  and  shipped 
about  1,000  squares. 

HURLEYS1    HURON    MOUNTAIN 

quarry  is  owned  by  a  company  of  that  name,  and  though 
more  remote  from  water  communication,  is  esteemed  a 
most  valuable  property.  Considerable  work  has  been  done 
at  this  quarry,  though  as  yet  little  in  the  way  of  making 
slate,  owing  to  the  absence  of  a  suitable  road  for  its  trans- 
portation to  the  lake  side.  The  financial  depression  has  had 
the  effect  to  retard  the  work  of  development,  otherwise  the 
quarry  would  no  doubt  long  since  have  been  ready  with  its 
product  for  the  market. 

THE  SUPERIOR  SLATE  AND  MINING  COMPANY 

is  the  owner  of  a  large  acreage  on  the  slate  belt,  which   will 
no  doubt  be  opened  when  the  market  demands   an  increased 
product. 
Several  other  parties  have  purchased  lands,  among  them 


270  MINERAL    RESOURCES 

• 

the  original  discoverers  of  the  belt,  S.-C.  Smith,  Esq.,  Henry 
H.  Stafford,  and  others,  of  Marquette. 

The  soil  on  the  shore  of  Huron  Bay  is  especially  adapted 
to  agricultural  purposes.  It  is  a  sandy  loani,  very  deep,  warm 
and  rich.  All  sorts  of  root  and  grain  crops  grow  exceedingly 
well.  The  vegetables  are  especially  fine,  and  we  were  shown 
some  spring  wheat  which  cannot  well  be  excelled.  The  bay 
is  fourteen  miles  long,  with  nearly  forty  miles  of  shore  line, 
including  the  inlets  and  points,  with  a  good  depth  of  water 
on  every  mile  of  the  shore.  The  timber  is  hard  wood,  and 
stands  thick  and  heavy.  The  bay  is  absolutely  land-locked, 
as  points  extend  from  either  shore  so  far  into  the  bay  as  to 
break  off  all  influence  of  rough  weather  from  the  lake. 

The  superior  quality  of  the  slate  in  this  district  warrants 
the  prediction  that  within  a  few  years  the  entire  west  will 
be  supplied  from  Lake  Superior.  Wherever  introduced  it  at- 
tains a  celebrity  over  any  and  all  slates  brought  from  the 
east,  and  it  will  soon  be  in  request  like  our  copper  and  iron, 
and  its  purity,  durability,  and  unfading  color,  will  command 
for  it  a  better  price  than  eastern  slates.  The  out-put  this 
year  will  reach  several  thousand  squares,  and  it  will  be  an- 
nually increased  as  the  product  becomes  better  known.  In 
the  near  future  the  Huron  Bay  slate  district  will  become  as 
populous  and  enterprising  as  any  of  her  sister  Lake  Superior 
communities. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  271 


BUILDING  MATERIAL. 


BROWN    SANDSTONE. 


The  brown  sandstone  which  was  quarried  at  Marquette  for 
some  years,  without  attracting  the  especial  attention  of  men 
who  have  been  prominently  engaged  in  this  line  of  industry 
and  utility,  has  of  late  years  been  given  particular  promi- 
nence by  being  introduced  for  building  purposes  through  the 
best  architects  and  builders,  and  it  is  found  to  surpass,  in 
every  particular,  all  other  qualities  of  building  stone  here  in 
use.  It  is  well  known  that  the  mass  of  most  quarries  from 
which  building  stone  is  obtained — and  especially  sandstone 
and  granite — is  interseamed  with  thin  strata  of  limestone, 
trap,  conglomerate,  semi-limestone,  clay-slate  and  other 
substances,  which  detract  greatly  from  the  uniformity  of 
the  material  taken  out.  But  the  stone  which  is  found  in 
the  Marquette  Quarries,  is  as  uniform  in  quality  and  as 
easily  manipulated  in  a  mass  of  any  size — to  an  especial  pat- 
tern, if  desirable — as  if  moulded  out  of  soap,  aside  from  the 
trifle  of  additional  labor  required  to  work  the  harder  sub- 
stance. This  may  seem  like  exaggeration,  but  operations  on 
the  ground,  at  the  quarries,  show,  that  by  the  usual  method 
of  trenching  and  underseaming,  any  size  of  stone  may  be 
taken  out  in  as  perfect  a  form  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain  it 
without  the  use  of  saw  and  chisel.  Then  it  is  easily  worked; 
so  easily,  in  fact,  that  the  most  experienced  stone  cutters  de- 
cide that  from  twenty  to  fifty  per  cent,  can  be  saved  by  carv- 
ing it  to  occupy  any  place  which  may  be  desired  in  a  building. 
And  last  of  all,  it  is  found  that  as  it  is  exposed  to  the  atmos- 
phere and  its  moisture  is  evaporated,  it  becomes  harder  than 


272  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

any  other  stone  in  use,  and  when  laid  up  in  a  wall  in  the 
same  horizontal  position  it  was  taken  from  the  quarry,  it  will 
not  scale,  crack  or  expand,  as  is  the  case  with  much  of  the 
stone  used  for  building  purposes.  It  resembles,  as  near  as 
possible,  in  grain,  color  and  texture,  the  Portland,  Connecti- 
cut stone,  and  is  much  easier  worked.  It  is  finer  and  more 
compact  than  the  Ohio  building  stone,  and  has  been  pro- 
nounced just  as  good  as  the  New  England  granites,  while  it 
is  far  less  expensive,  thus  having  every  advantage  of  all  the 
best  building  stones.  There  are  within  the  city  limits  of 
Marquette  two  of  these  quarries,  from  which  have  been  fur- 
nished the  material  for  some  of  the  handsomest  and  most 
substantial  business  blocks  in  Chicago.  The 

MARQUETTE  BROWN   STONE    COMPANY 

owns  120  acres,  just  back  of  the  rolling  mill,  which  have 
been  worked  quite  profitably  for  several  years  past.  It  is 
not  deemed  necessary  to  describe  the  quarry  in  detail,  nor  to 
say  more  than  that  there  appears  to  be  an  immense  bed  of 
the  stone.  The  upper  layers  are  white  and  variegated,  under 
which  lies  the  pure  brown  stone  which  is  so  eagerly  sought 
after,  not  only  because  of  its  beautiful  uniform  color,  bat  be- 
cause of  its  invaluable  fire-proof  qualities.  It  is  owned  ex- 
clusively by  Marquette  men. 

THE   BURT   FREE   STONE  COMPANY'S 

quarry  adjoins  that  of  the  Marquette  Brown  Stone  Company, 
and  has  been  wrought  for  several  years,  though  not  very  suc- 
cessfully. The  stone  does  not  appear  to  be  of  quite  as  good 
quality  as  that  of  its  neighbor,  and  the  quarry  has  been  par- 
tially abandoned. 

At  Portage  Entry  another  bed  of  fine  red  sandstone  has 
been  secured  by  Jay.  C.  Morse,  Esq.,  and  other  Marquette  men,, 
upon  which  it  is  proposed  to  organize  a  joint  stock  company. 
Indeed,  but  for  the  occurrence  of  the  panic,  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  the  company  would  have  been  successfully  or- 
ganized, and  work  long  since  commenced.  The  development 
of  the  quarry  is  only  a  question  of  time. 

The  newest  and  most  important  enterprise   of  the  kind  is,, 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  273 


however,  near  I/ Anse,  where  a  new  quarry  was  opened  by  the 

I/ANSE  BROWN"   STONE    COMPANY, 

in  the  summer  of  1875.  At  this  quarry  the  stone  outcrops 
400  feet  on  the  bay  shore,  is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  some- 
what harder  than  tha£  of  the  Marquette  quarries,  and  it  is 
believed  will  stand  a  much  greater  pressure,  while  its  fire- 
proof qualities  are  equally  as  good.  The  bed  of  pure  brown 
stone  is  about  nine  feet  thick  at  the  point  where  quarrying 
has  been  commenced,  and  test-pits  show  that  it  extends  back 
from  the  water  front  some  four  or  five  thousand  feet.  It  is 
covered  by  a  drift  which  does  not  average  more  than  two  feet 
in  thickness,  and  its  situation  on  the  bay  is  such  that  it  can 
be  quarried  and  loaded  upon  vessels  at  a  cost  at  least  25  per 
cent,  below  that  of  quarries  situated  at  a  distance  from  nav- 
igable waters,  and  in  the  operation  of  which  teams  have  to 
be  employed  to  haul  the  product  to  the  water's  side. 

A  crib  dock  has  been  built  into  sixteen  feet  of  water, 
which  depth  is  reached  in  less  than  200  feet  from  the  shore 
line.  The  cribs  are  placed  just  north  of  the  quarry  and  are 
strong  and  substantial  enough  to  answer  the  purposes  of  a 
breakwater,  thus  enabling  vessels  to  land  in  almost  any  stress 
of  weather.  The  cribs  were  all  filled  with  rubble  from  the 
quarry,  and  cost  little  more  than  the  timber  used  in  their 
construction.  A  tram-road  extends  on  a  slight  incline  from 
the  quarry  along  the  whole  length  of  the  dock,  upon  which 
the  product  of  the  quarry  is  conveyed  along  side  the  vessel 
without  the  aid  of  steam  or  horse  power.  A  small  engine  is 
employed  in  hoisting  the  stone  upon  the  cars,  and  in  trans- 
ferring it  from  the  dock  into  the  vessels. 

The  first  ubreak"  at  this  quarry  detached  a  solid  block  of 
stone  containing  2,400  cubic  feet.  The  working  face  on  the 
first  bed,  or  layer,  is  nine  feet  in  height,  or  thickness,  and  as 
may  be  inferred,  can  be  extended  400  feet  along  the  shore. 
These  400  feet  cover  the  front  of  ten  acres,  all  of  which  are 
under-laid  with  the  same  quality  of  stone,  as  has  been  proved 
by  a  close  examination.  The  ground  rises  to  a  height  of 
about  50  feet,  about  the  same  distance  back  from  the  shore, 
and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  bed  increases  in 


274  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

thickness — unless,  indeed,  it  conforms  most  closely  to  the  to- 
pography, in  which  case  the  facilities  for  quarrying  will,  at 
least,  be  greatly  enhanced. 

T.  T.  Hurley,  Esq.,  of  Marquette,  is  the  moving  spirit  in 
this  enterprise,  as  he  has  been  in  many  others  that  have  re- 
dounded to  the  credit  and  advantage  of  the  Lake  Superior 
region.  E.  M.  Wood,  Esq.,  a  competent  man,  is  superintendent. 

Near  Bay  field,  on  one  of  the  islands  of  the  Apostle  group, 
a  quarry  was  opened  some  years  ago,  and  from  it  was  ob- 
tained the  stone  of  which  the  elegant  Milwaukee  court  house  is 
built.  In  fact,  all  along  the  south  shore  of  the  lake  are  situ- 
ated beds  of  this  brown  stone  of  the  very  finest  quality,  which 
in  years  to  come  will  be  developed  and  made  to  yield  the  mate- 
rial for  the  building  up,  in  a  more  substantial  manner,  of  our 
great  lake  cities.  Indeed,  such  is  the  acknowledged  value  of 
our  Lake  Superior  brown  sandstone  as  a  building  material,  that 
we  may  confidently  expect  our  quarries,  in  a  few  years,  to 
become  one  of  the  most  important  elements  of  substantial 
wealth. 

LUMBER. 

It  was  the  desire  of  the  writer  to  present  in  this  volume 
full  statistics  of  the  lumber  trade  of  the  Lake  Superior  coun- 
try, but  he  regrets  to  say  that  his  requests  for  information 
were  not  generally  responded  to.  Reports  were  received 
from  twenty -two  mills,  having  an  annual  aggregate  capacity 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  million  feet.  These  twenty- 
two  mills  cut  in  1875,  95,000,000  feet  of  lumber,  21,200,000 
lath,  20,650,000  shingles,  and  12,298  bundles  of  pickets,  the 
total  value  of  which  in  the  market  was  about  $1,500,000. 
These  returns  do  not  include  all  the  mills,  and  the  writer  is 
therefore  precluded  from  making  as  detailed  a  statement  as 
he  desired  to  do.  The  figures  show,  however,  that  lumber  is 
not  the  least  important  of  the  many  natural  resources  of  the 
Upper  Peninsula  of  Michigan.  In  one  county  alone,  (Chip- 
pewa,)  there  is  pine  timber  enough  to  keep  fifty  mills  at  work 
for  as  many  years,  and  the  whole  peninsula,  except  where  it 
has  been  burned  over,  is  little  less  than  a  vast  forest  of  pine 
and  hard  wood. 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  275 


AGRICULTURE. 


The  idea  commonly  held  by  strangers  to  Lake  Superior  is, 
that  it  is  a  barren,  sterile  region,  the  surface  of  the  country 
consisting  of  rocky  ledges,  cliffs  and  hills,  with  here  and 
there  a  stunted  fir  or  spruce  tree,  maintaining  a  precarious 
existence  in  the  shallow  soil  which  has  collected  in  cracks  in 
the  rocks  or  in  small  valleys  between  the  ridges.  This  idea, 
which  was  probably  derived  from  the  accounts  given  by  the 
early  voyagers,  explorers  and  missionaries  who  first  visited 
this  region,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  penetrated  the  forests  far 
enough  to  lose  sight  of  the  lake,  is  certainly  erroneous.  In 
consequence  of  these  popular  fallacies,  strangers  visiting  this 
region  are  almost  invariably  astonished,  when  they  learn  that 
there  are  farms  at  various  points  on  the  lake,  that  pay  larger 
dividends  to  the  proprietors  than  the  best  farms  in  the  most 
fertile  parts  of  the  country;  and  they  are  inclined  to  doubt 
their  senses  when  they  find  farmers  actually  getting  rich  on 
their  Lake  Superior  farms. 

There  are  large  tracts  of  fertile  land  lying  at  various 
points  along  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  and  all  over 
the  U  pper  Peninsula  of  Michigan,  in  such  proximity  to  the 
mining  and  lumbering  settlements  that  their  products 
would  always  be  in  good  demand,  and  bring  the  high- 
est cash  prices.  The  soil  is  either  a  dark  sandy  loam,  or 
clay,  principally  the  former — well  watered  with  numerous 
small  streams  of  clear  spring  water,  and  an  occasional  small 
lake  of  remarkable  clearness  and  beauty,  well  stocked  with 
excellent  fish — principally  the  popular  speckled  trout.  One 
peculiarity  of  this  locality  is  that  the  great  depth  of  snow 
(from  three  to  seven  feet)  which  falls  during  the  winter, 


276  t          MINERAL  RESOURCES 

usually  prevents  the  ground  from  being  frozen  in  the  slight- 
est material  degree.  In  many  instances,  potatoes ,  have  been 
left  in  the  ground  during  the  winter  without  sustaining 
injury  from,  frost.  A  home-steader  remarks:  u  I  have  been 
on  my  location  five  years,  and  have  planted  no  potatoes  since 
the  first  year,  allowing  them  to  'seed'  themselves;  but/'  said 
he,  u  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  plant  some  more,  for  they  get 
smaller  every  year;  and  they'll  get  so  small  I  can't  find  'em 
in  two  or  three  years  more.  The  first  two  years  they  were 
the  best  potatoes  I  ever  saw." 

Farmers  from  the  old  settled  regions  of  New  York,  Ohio, 
and  even  of  Southern  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  other  near 
localities,  while  visiting  this  region  for  the  first  time,  are 
greatly  astonished  on  learning  that  though  the  winters  usu- 
ally last  from  six  to  seven  months,  agriculture  can  be  suc- 
cessfully carried  on.  It  would  scarcely  be  profitable  to  raise 
live  stock  for  the  market,  as  the  length  of  time  for  winter 
feeding  is  so  great,  and  corn  is  not  a  successful  crop.  The 
principal  crops  raised  here  are  hay,  oats  and  potatoes,  and 
other  common  root  crops.  Strawberries,  and  other  small 
fruits,  grow  luxuriantly  and  yield  abundantly.  Wheat  would 
doubtless  do  well,  but  as  yet  there  are  no  mills  for  grinding, 
and  the  cereal  is  not  regularly  grown.  As  soon,  however,  as 
the  farming  communities  become  extensive  enough  to  war- 
rant it,  mills  will,  of  course,  be  erected.  The  deep  snows,  it 
is  contended  by  some,  will  smother  the  wheat;  but  in  the 
month  of  June,  1872,  the  writer  traveled  from  the  southern 
part  of  Michigan  to  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw,  at  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  Lower  Peninsula,  a  distance  of  upwards  of 
two  hundred  miles,  and  the  best  piece  of  winter  wheat  he 
saw  in  the  State  was  in  Cheboygan  county,  on  the  Black 
river,  within  six  miles  of  the  Straits,  where  the  snow  had 
been  from  three  to  seven  feet  deep  for  several  months  during 
the  preceding  winter — which  is  about  the  depth  the  snow 
reaches  in  the  hardest  winters  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake 
Superior.  Hay,  is  probably  the  easiest  and  most  remunera- 
tive crop  the  agriculturist  can  raise  in  this  region,  as  grass 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR,  277 

attains  a  rank  growth,  and  when  cured,  commands  a  high 
price  from  the  various  mining  and  lumbering  companies. 
During  the  season  of  1873-'4,  hay  was  sold  at  $35  and 
upward  per  ton.  We  have  seen  "blue  joint"  grass  grow- 
ing in  the  beaver  meadows  along  the  small  streams  in 
this  region,  which  stood  from  four  to  five  feet  in  height  in 
the  month  of  June — equivalent  to  May  in  the  latitude  of 
central  and  western  New  York.  Those  meadows,  which  are 
accessible  from  the  lumber  camps  or  mines,  are  mowed  every 
year  by  the  companies  nearest  adjacent,  and  indeed  much  of 
the  land  on  which  they  are  situated  has  been  purchased  by 
them  in  order  to  secure  the  grass.  There  is  no  danger  of 
overstocking  the  hay  market,  because,  even  now,  large  quan- 
tities are  annually  shipped  to  this  country  from  those  agri- 
cultural districts  which  are  the  most  accessible,  and  the 
mineral  development  of  this  country  has  but  just  commenced. 
Oats  are  always  in  demand  at  high  prices,  and  yield  well. 
The  large  number  of  horses  employed  in  lumbering  and 
mining  operations  require  thousands  of  bushels  of  oats  every 
year,  which  are  shipped  from  as  far  south  as  Illinois,  and 
never  bring  less  than  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  and  usually  the 
prices  are  much  higher.  Potatoes  yield  well,  and  bring 
strong  prices — $1.00  and  upwards  per  bushel — with  ready 
sales. 

The  timber  growing  on  the  agricultural  lands  usually  con- 
sists of  sugar,  or  hard  maple,  yellow  birch,  basswood,  elm,  and 
on  the  low  lands  along  the  streams  and  near  the  lakes,  white 
cedar,  fir,  hemlock,  and  soft  maple,  with  some  pine  timber. 
The  numerous  charcoal  furnaces  already  built,  and  others 
soon  to  be,  will  make  this  timber  valuable;  in  fact,  large 
tracts  of  the  lands  covered  with  this  hard  wood  have  been 
located  by  speculators,  in  anticipation  of  the  denesaid  for  the 
wood  sure  to  be  created  by  these  furnaces,  and  large  sums  of 
money  have  already  been  realized  by  comparatively  small 
investments  in  this  class  of  lands,  located  near  enough  to  the 
railroads,  before  they  were  built,  or  soon  after  they  were 
finished,  to  render  them  accessible  to  the  charcoal  burners. 


278  MINERAL  RESOURCES 

One  furnace  company  has  constructed  a  wooden  railroad  of 
about  eleven  miles  in  length,  on  which  to  draw  charcoal, 
wood  having  become  scarce  in  the  vicinity  of  the  furnace. 
Other  furnaces  have  been  abandoned  wholly  on  account  of 
the  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  supply  of  charcoal.  Thus  a 
scarcity  of  wood  may  be  created  even  in  a  "wooden  country." 
The  desirable  lands  lying  near  the  railroads  already  built 
are  probably  nearly  all  bought  up,  but  along  the  line  of  one 
or  two  projected  roads,  (the  Mackinaw  &  Marquette,  and 
Menominee  Range)  which  must,  in  the  nature  of  things, 
soon  be  built,  there  are  still  considerable  state  and  govern- 
ment lands  that  can  be  bought  for  $1.25,  $2.50,  and  $4.00 
per  acre;  or,  any  one  desiring  to  settle  on  the  land  can,  by 
payment  of  a  small  fee  at  the  government  land  office,  "  pre- 
empt "  160  acres  of  the  $1.25  land,  or  80  acres  of  the  $2.50 
land.  In  buying  $4  state  lands,  the  purchaser  can,  by 
making  oath  that  it  is  principally  valuable  for  agricultural 
purposes,  secure  the  title  on  payment  of  $1.00  per  acre,  and 
have  almost  unlimited  time  in  which  to  pay  the  balance,  with 
seven  per  cent,  interest,  payable  annually. 


This  volume  would  not  be  complete  without  a  reference  to 
Lake  Superior  as  a  summer  resort  for  the  tourist  pleasure 
seeker  and  invalid;  and  the  writer  feels  that  he  cannot  do 
better  than  quote  the  words  of  one  who  can  hardly  be  con- 
sidered an  interested  party.  In  1864,  M.  J.  R.  St.  John 
visited  this  region,  and  was  so  enraptured  with  the  climate 
and  scenery  that  he  was  led  to  write  and  publish  a  small 
volume,  giving  an  account  of  the  country  and  its  many 
attractions.  In  it  he  says: 

"To  the  traveler  for  pleasure,  let  me  say  a  few  words.  When 
you  shall  have  read  the  round  upon  which  I  have  taken  the 
coaster,  you  will  probably  shrink  from  the  toils  of  following 
the  shore,  and  wish  to  go  direct,  and  quick,  from  place  to 
place,  or  tarry  a  time  at  one  place  and  then  go  to  another — in 
either  case  there  will  be  ample  provision  next  season.  *  * 


OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  279 

If  you  are  in  pursuit  of  pleasure,  whether  lady  or  gentleman, 
you  can  find  it  in  the  Lake  Superior  region,  provided  you  can 
be  pleased  with  grand  scenery,  water-falls,  lakes   and   moun- 
tains.    You  can  ramble  in  search   of  agates  and   carnelians, 
in  which,  of  all  I  have  seen  engaged,  I  have  never  known  one 
to  tire  of  the  amusement.     *     *     Or,  tired  of  this,   you  can 
wander  away  with  hook  and  line,  to  the  bright  and  beautiful 
lakes  that  lie  among  the  hills;  or  take  your  gun,  for 
The  Pigeon  and  the  Pheasant's  there, 
The  wild  Duck,  and  the  timid  Hare — 

but  no  snakes !  I  have  never  heard  of  any  in  the  country. 
Or  take  a  bark  canoe,  which  two  or  three  trials  will  make  you 
at  home  in,  for  they  are  much  easier  to  get  the  'hang' of,  than 
most  persons  suppose;  go  to  the  adjacent  islands,  run  into 
the  caverns  and  grottoes,  which  cannot  be  reached  in  any 
other  way.  You  may  find  rare  agates  there  after  a  gale,  and 
when  you  return  keep  along  the  shore  and  examine  the  bot- 
tom marked  by  white  spar  veins,  discernible  at  thirty  or 
forty  feet  deep,  *  and  when  you  get  back  you  will  have 

an  appetite;  the  tonic  air  of  that  region,  and  the  water,  will 
make  a  new  being  of  you  in  a  few  weeks.  The  air  is  bracing, 
yet  soft,  and  is  pleasant  in  'dog  days,1  without  producing  that 
faintness  and  lassitude  of  the  warm  weather  you  have  been 
used  to;  and  the  water — well,  you  will  not  be  singular,  you 
will  then  say  you  have  never  drank  any  water  before,  and 
when  you  return  whence  you  came,  and  again  drink  of  that 
you  once  thought  delicious,  you  will  condemn  it  as  an  adul- 
teration, or  spurious.  To  the  invalid  I  have  a  few  words  to 
say:  1  am  not  'cracking1  up  the  country;  for  I  shall  write 
nothing  that  all  who  go  will  not  find  as  I  represent  it,  or 
all  who  have  been  will  not  confirm,  either  on  this  or  any 
other  subject  of  their  acquaintance  which  I  treat  upon.  T.o 
you  I  sav,  go,  then;  although  your  health  is  impaired  you 
cannot  be  injured,  and  I  know  one  gentleman  who  had  been 
south,  and  to  Havana,  without  benefit,  and  one  season  on 
Lake  Superior  restored  him,  as  he  said,  to  comparative  health. 
I  don't  know  why  it  should  not  relieve  consumptives  as  well 


280  MINERAL  RESOURCES. 

as  others — all  who  go  there  declare  they  feel  much  better,  and 
I  know  I  did." 

This  was  written  at  a  time  when  the  only  settlements  were 
at  Sault  ste.  Marie  and  at  Copper  Harbor,  when  the  building 
of  such  towns  as  Marquette,  Negaunee,  Ishpeming,  Hough- 
ton,  Hancock  and  others  of  less  note,  were  not  dreamt  of. 
Now,  we  have  handsome  and  flourishing  cities  and  villages, 
where  then  stood  the  primeval  forest;  palatial  steamers  plow 
the  great  lake;  railways  connect  us  with  all  parts  of  the 
Union;  we  have  churches,  schools — all  the  adjuncts  of  civ- 
ilization— and  yet  the  clear,  babbling  brooks  and  beautiful 
lakes  remain  to  charm  the  tourist  and  afford  recreation  for 
the  sporting  Nimrod. 

Come  and  see  us  ! 

THE    END. 


THE 


teuite* 


MANUFACTURES  AND  OFFERS    FOR  SALE 

ZMZercliaa^it    IBa,r   Iron.. 

Flat  Bars  up  to  6x2.  Rounds  and  Squares  up  to  4  inch, 
Ovals,  Half  Ovals,  Half  Rounds,  Box  Iron,  Cylinder*  Bars, 
Plow  Beam  Iron,  &c.  Also,  Hoop,  Band,  Horse  Shoe  and 
Shafting  Iron  of  superior  quality.  A  full  assortment  in 
store  after  February  1st. 

3PIgr    Iron. 

Superior  No.  1  Foundry  Iron  constantly  on  hand.  Bes- 
semer Iron  and  Special  Grades  of  Foundry  and  Mill  Iron 
made  on  orders. 

3=3aolroa,d.    Iron. 

Thirty  Patterns,  from  30  to  65  Ibs.  per  yard.  Re-rolling 
done  on  short  notice. 

3=2aj.lroa,d.    Splices. 

Fish  Plates  to  fit  all  rails  used  in  the  West.  Track 
Bolts  made  from  Iron  of  superior  quality.  A  large  stock 
on  hand.  New  patterns  made  promptly. 


Oo-u-plingr  IjirLtes  a,nd. 

All  patterns  kept  in  store  and  made  to  order.     Link  and 
Pin  Iron  in  stock. 

Capacity  of  Works  for  1876. 

Merchant  Bar  Iron,  ......  20,000  tons. 

Pig  Iron,  ....  -     35,000     " 

Railroad  Iron,          -  ....  40,000     " 

Railroad  Splices  and  Couplings,        -  -       5,000 

Address  all  correspondence  to 

MILWAUKEE  IRON  CO., 

Milwaukee,  Wls. 


ROTHSCHILD   &  BENDING, 

Wholesale  and^Retail  Dealers  in 

Imported  and  Domestic  Wines,  Liquors, 

Cigars,  Tobaccos  and  Smoker's  Articles, 

52  Front  Street,  _  M^RQUETTT,  MICH. 

TREMONT    HOUSE, 


This  popular  Hotel  has  been  re-opened  under  the  management  of  the  Proprietress, 

MRS.  ARMSTRONG, 

And  will  be  kept  in  first  class  style.    Charges  moderate,  and  accommodations  equal  to 
any  hotel  in  the  city. 

THE. 

MINING  LAWS  OF    MICHIGAN, 

COMPILED  BY  HON.  W.  P.  HEALY. 


Cents. 


Address  with  price,  A.    p,    SW1NEFORD, 

Marquette. 


CLIFF   HOUSE,  DEVIL'S  LAKE,  wis, 

B.  K.  COWLES,  Proprietor. 

Devil's  Lake  is  one  of  the  mo»t  delightful  summer  resorts  in  <he  Northwest,  within 
easy  distance  from  Chicago,  and  the  Hotel  has  first  class  accommodations  for  one  hun- 
dred guests. 

JOHN    L.    COCHRAN, 

ATTORNEY-  AT-LAW 

AND  SOLICITOR  IN  CHANCERY. 

OFFICE  —  In  Watson's  Block,  MARQUETTE,  MICH. 


THE  FIIJST  NATIONAL 


MARQUETTE,  MICH. 

Capital,        -----        $4OO,OOO. 


THE 


AN   EIGHT  PAGE  WEEKLY, 


DEVOTED    TO    THE 


A.  P.  SWINEFORD,  Editor  and  Proprietor. 


Postal  Card    for  Specimen  Copy. 


Having  a  large  circulation  at  home  arid  abroad,  the  MINING 
JOURNAL  presents  itself  as  the  most  desirable 
advertising  medium  in  the  great  min- 
eral districts  of  Lake  Superior. 

BATES  REASONABLE  AND  FURNISHED  ON  APPMCAION. 


J 


©f 


From  an  ordinary  address  card  to  the  most  elaborate  blank 

book  executed  in  the  neatest  style.    Steam  presses, 

and  a  very  large  assortment  of  types  of  the 

latest  stles. 


Orders  ly  Mail  promptly  attended 


THE 


ntonagon  ilmlroacl 


COMPANY. 


GENERAL    OFFICERS. 

President,  Hon.  SAMUEL  SLOAN,  New  York. 
Treasurer  and  Sec'y,  E.  F.  HATFIELD,  Jr.,  New  York. 
Gen'l  Manager  and  Sup't,  SAM'L  SCHOCH,  Marquette,  Mich. 
Master  of  Transportation,  JOHN  HORNBY, 
General  Freight  Agent,  JOHN  SIBSON, 
General  Ticket  Agent,  W.  C.  BROWE, 
Cashier,  J.  S.  HARDEN,  Jr., 
Chief  Engineer,  C.  H.  V.  CAV1S, 


HIS  ROAD  extends  from  Marquette,  Mich.,  on 
Lake  Superior  west  along  the  northern  part  of  the 
Upper  Peninsula  to  L'Anse,  on  Keweenaw  Bay,  a 
distance  of  63  miles,  with  branches  and  sidings  making  an 
aggregate  of  108  88-100  miles.  All  the  important  Iron 
Mines  of  the  section  are  reached  by  the  M.,  H.  &  O. 
R.  R.,  and  extensive  Docks  for  the  shipment  of  Ore  are 
located  at  the  termini.  It  is  also  the  only  Rail  Route  to  the 
vast  Copper  Mines  of  Houghton  and  Keweenaw  counties. 
The  Company  own  over  400,000  acres  of  land,  portions  of 
it  known  to  possess  Iron  Ore  in  quantities,  and  all  of  it 
thickly  timbered  and  easy  of  access.  These  lands  are  now 
offered  to  the  attention  of  those  desirous  ol  investing  in 
Iron  and  Timber  lands  at  very  reasonable  rates,  and  upon 
liberal  terms. 

The  tourist  and  sportsman  will  find  more  of  interest  in 
a  visit  to  this  section  than  in  any  other  portion  of  the  State. 

Connection  is  made  with  all  trains  of  the  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railway  at  Negaunee  and  at  L'Anse  with 
steamers  for  all  points  in  the  Copper  and  Silver  regions. 


RHODES  &  BRADLEY 
FIG  IRON, 

STEEL  AND    IRON   RAILS, 

Boiler  Plate,  Sheet  and  Galvanized  Iron, 

Agents  for  the  following  Manufacturers  : 

Baiigor  Furnace  Co.,  Lake  Superior  Charcoal  Pig  Iron. 
Marquette  &  Pacific  Rolling  Mill  Co.,  Lake  Superior  Stone 

Coal  Pig  Iron. 

Milwaukee  Iron  Co.,  Rails  and  Pig  Iron. 
Standard  Iron  Co.,  Sheet  and  Galvanized  Iron. 
Bradley,  Reis  &  Co.,  New  Castle,  Sheet  and  Plate  Iron. 
Reading  Iron  Works,  Boiler  Tubes,  etc. 
Baltimore  Rivet  and  Spike  Works,  Boiler  Rivets,  etc. 
Haselton  &  Leetonia  Furnaces,  American  Scotch  Pig  Iron. 

Pig  Iron  Dock,  111.  Cent'l  E.  R.  Slips.  40  &  42  Dearborn  Sc.,  Chicago. 


IE  IR, 

JOSHUA     CULBERT, 


Keeps  the  finest  stock  of 


3f tiroes, 


And  Carriages  in  the  City. 

Conveyances   and  Guides   to   the  best   Fishing   Grounds 
furnished  on  application. 


PUBLISHED  WEEKLY  AT 


A  REPRESENTATIVE  JOURNAL 

OF  THE 

Iron,  Coal,  Ore,  Hardware  and  Metal 

TRADES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  only  Journal  of  the  kind  Published  in  Philadelphia, 

The  IBON  AND  METAL  EEVIEW  is  a  class  journal  specially  devoted  to  the  Metal,  Goal 
and  Ore  industries  of  the  country,  and  contains  price  lists,  trade  reports,  correspon- 
dence, and  other  valuable  information  from  all  sections  of  the  United  fetates.  located 
at  Philadelphia,  the  great  shipping  point  and  centre  of  the  Anthracite  Coal  trade,  and 
the  metropolitan  city  of  the  leading  Iron,  Steel.  Machinery,  Ore  and  Metal  producing 
State  of  the  Union,  its  publishers  have  unsurpassed  facilities  for  obtaining  the  earliest 
and  most  reliable  information  pertaining  to  ita  special  field  of  journalism,  BcP" Cor- 
respondence solicited  on  all  subjects  of  interest  '-o  the  trade.  Advertising  rates  rea- 
sonable. Subscription,  $2.00  per  annum,  postage  paid. 

Address,  IRON  AND  METAL  KEVIEW,  323  Walnut  St.,  Philadelphia. 


SCOVILLE  &  JOHNSON, 

DEALERS  IN 

Guns,  Revolvers,  Ammunition,  Fishing  Tackle 
Tents  and  Camping  Equipage  of  all  descriptions- 

Also  manufacturers  of 

LEHpN'S  PATENT 

FOLDING 

CAMP   BAKER, 

CLOSED. 

OPEN.  Kepresented  by  the  accompanying  cut. 

When  opened  for  use  the  Baker  is  placed  before  the  fire,  the  heat  being  reflected  from 
the  bright  surface  of  tin,  both  below  and  above  the  t-luet-iron  pan,  in  which  all  kinds 
of  meats,  game,  bread  or  biscuit  can  be  baked  as  perfectly  as  in  the  oven  of  a  stove. 
When  folded  it  occupies  but  a  trifle  more  space  than  the  pan  it  contains,  in  which  may 
be  packed  many  ol  the  smaller  articles  used  by  camp-is.  Will  mail  4hem,  post  paid, 
to  any  part  of  the  United  States  at  the  following  prices  : 

Size.  Weight.  Price.  Size.  Weight  Price, 

8x9  2  Ibs.  $3.25  11x13  4  Ibs.  2cz.  $4.75 

8x11  2     "  3  cz.  3.75  11x16  5   "  5.75 

8x13  2     "  7  oz.  4.25  11x19  o     "  7  oz.  6,75 

Extra  large  size,  17x27,  $10.00.  Discount  on  orders  of  six  or  more. 

SCOVILLE  &  JOHNSON,  Marquette,  Mcch, 


ALL    RAIL 

TO  THE  NORTH 


THE     ONLY    L 


NLY        INE    TO 


IS    THE 

Chicago  &  North-Western  Railway. 

It  embraces  under  one  management  the  Great  Trunk  Railway  Lines  of  the  West 
and  Northwest,  and,  with  its  numerous  branches  and  connexions,  forms  the  shortest 
and  quickest  route  between  Chicago  and  all  points  in  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Northern 
Michigan,  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Calitornia  and  the  Western  Territories.  Its 
Omaha  and  California  Line  is  the  shortest  and  best  route  for  all  points  in  North- 
ern Illinois.  Iowa,  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Wyoming,  Colorado,  Utah,  Nevada,  California, 
Oregon,  China,  Japan  and  Australia.  Its  Chicago,  Madison  and  St.  Paul  Line 
is  the  short  line  for  Northern  Wisconsin  and  Miunt-sota,  and  tor  Madison,  St.  Paul, 
Minneapolis,  Duluth,  and  all  points  in  the  Great  Northwest.  Its  Winona  and  St. 
Peter  Line  is  the  only  route  for  Winona,  Rochester,  Owatonna,  Mankato,  St.  Peter, 
New  Ulm,  and  all  points  in  Southern  and  Central  Minnesota.  Its  Green  Bay  and 
Marquette  Line  is  the  only  line  for  Janesville,  Watertown,  Fond  du  .Lac,  Oshkosh, 
Appleton,  Green  Bay,  Escanaba,  Negaunee.  Marquette,  Houghton,  Hancock,  and  the 
Lake  Superior  Country.  Its  Freeport  and  Dubuque  Line  is  the  only  route  for 
Elgin,  Rockford,  Freeport,  and  all  points  via  Freeport.  Its  Chicago  and  Milwau- 
kee Line  is  the  old  Lake  Shore  Route,  and  is  the  only  one  passing  through  Evans- 
ton,  Lake  Forest,  Highland  Park,  Waukegan,  Racine,  Kenosha,  to  Milwaukee. 

PULLMAM  PALACE  CARS  are  run  on  all  throuarh  trains  of  thia  road.  This  is 
the  only  line  running  these  cars  between  Chicago  and  St,  Paul,  Chicago  and  Milwau- 
kee, or  Chicago  and  Wiuona.  At  Omaha  our  sletpeis  connect  with  the  Overland  Sleep- 
ers on  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  ,or  all  points  West  of  the  Missouri  River.  On  the  ar- 
rival of  the  trains  from  the  East  or  South;  the  trains  of  the  Chicago  &  North-western 
Railway  leave  Chicago  as  follows: 

FOR  COUNCIL  BLUFFS,  OMAHA  AND  CALIFORNIA,  Two  Through  Trains 
daily,  with  Pullman  Palace  Drawing  Room  and  Sleeping  Cars  through  to  Council 
Bluffs.  FOR  St.  PAUL  AND  MINNEAPOLIS,  two  through  trains  daily,  with  Pull- 
man Cars  attached  on  both  trains.  FOR  GREEN  BAY  AND  LAKE  SUPERIOR, 
two  trains  daily,  with  Pullman  Palace  Cars  attached,  and  running  through  to  Mar- 
quette. FOR  MILWAUKEE,  four  through  trains  daily.  Pullman  Cars  on  night 
trains,  Parlor  Chair  Cars  on  day  trains.  FOR  SPARTA  AND  WINONA,  and  points 
in  Minnesota,  one  through  train  daily,  with  Pullman  Sleepers  to  Winona.  FOR 
DUBUQ,UE,via  Freeport,  tw»  through  trains  daily,  with  Pullman  Cars  on  night  trains. 

FOR  DUBUQUE  AND  LA  CROSSE,  via  Clinton,  two  through  trains  daily,  with 
Pullman  Cars  on  night  train  to  McGregor,  Iowa.  FOR  SIOUX  CITY  AND  YANK- 
TON,  two  trains  daily,  Pullman  Cars  to  Missouri  Valley  Junction.  FOR  LAKE  GE- 
NEVA, four  trains  daily.  FOR  ROCKFORD,  STERLING,  KENOSHA,  JANES- 
VILLE, and  other  points,  you  can  have  from  two  to  ten  trains  daily. 

New  York  Office,  No.  415  Broadway;  Boston  Office,  No.  5  State  street.  Omaha  Of- 
#ce,  253  Farnham  Street;  San  Francisco  Office,  121  Montgomery  Street;  Chicago 
Ticket  Offices;  62  Clark  Street,  under  Sherman  House;  corner  Canal  and  Madison 
Streets;  Kinzie  Street  Depot,  Corner  W.  Kinzie  and  Canal  Streets;  Wells  Street  Depot 
corner  Wells  and  Kinzie  Streets. 

For  rates  or  information  not  attainable  from  your  home  ticket  agents,  apply  to 

W.  H.  STENNETT,  MABVIJf  MUGHITT, 

Gen.  Pass.  Ag't,  Chicago.  Gen.  Sup't,  Chicago. 


MAt^F.  BY  M.  C.  BULLOCK,  upl|_  LESCHOT'S  PATENT, 

(Formerly  Supt.  of  the  Pennsylvania  Diamond  Drill  Co.,  and  the  General  Supt. 
ot  the  American  Diamond  Drill  Co.,  of  New  York,  and  late  of  the  Am.  Dia- 
mond Rock  Boring  Co.,  of  Providence,  R.  J.)  Are  now  brought  to  the 

Highest  State  of  Perfection  and  adapted  to  Prospecting,  Mining,  Shaft- 
ing, Tunneling,  Draining,  Quarrying  and  Submarine  Blasting. 

Testimony  from  all  parts  of  this  country,  Europe  and  South  America,  has 
established  their  leputation  for  Rapidity  of  Execution  and  economy  over  any 
other  in  use.  For  prospecting  they  accomplish  the  most  important  results, 
otherwise  wholly  unattainable.  By  their  use  ONLY  can  mines  be  penetrated 
to  a  depth  of  irom  one  to  two  thousand  feet  through  the  hardest  rock  at  any 
angle  from  vertical  to  horizontal,  taking  out  a  core  the  entire  depth,  fully  de- 
veloping the  strata  passed  through. 

Air  Compressors,    Hoisting   Engines  and    all  kinds  of  Mining  Machin- 
ery furnished.    Satisfaction  Guaranteed. 

Catalogues  and  price  lists  forwarded  on  application.  Personal  attention 
given  to  contracts  taken  for  testing  the  value  of  mines  and  quarries. 

Address,  Care  of  FRASER,  CHALMERS  &  CO.,  Agents, 

145  Fulton  St.,  Chicago. 


In  large  or  small  quantities,  convenient  to  Iron  and   Transportation  in  Upper 
Peninsula  Michigan. 


ZLja.xi.cis 

On  the  Menominee  Range  and  elsewhere. 

ZE^Ine 

Tributary  to  the  best  lumbering  streams.       For  sale  by  the  Land  Agency  of 

JAS.  B.  GOODMAN  &  CO  ,  73  Dearborn  St. 
CHICAGO. 

Also  Farms  and  Farm  Lands  in  all  parts  of  the  Northwest.  Southern  Plant- 
ations, Chicago  City  and  Suburban  Real  Estate.  We  undertake  all  business 
pertaining  to  the  purchase,  care,  management  and  sale  of  real  estate,  making 
a  specialty  of  Timber  and  Mineral  Lands.  Correspondence  solicited  from 
owners  and  buyers. 


T.  B.  BROOKS»CHAS.  E.  WRIGHT, 

IRON  EXPERTS  AND  CHEMISTS, 


Will  attend  to  the  Exploration  of  Mineral  Lands  and   Mines,  and   Analysis  of  Ores. 
B^"  References  and  Terms  made  known  on  application.  ^gg| 

SAMUEL  F.  HODGE," 

MANUFACTURER  OF 

HIGH  AND  LOW  PRESSURE  ENGINES 

For  Boats,  Mills,  Stamping.  Pumping  and  Hoisting  Purposes,  Bucket  or 
Plunger  Pumps.  Cast  Iron  or  Brass  Seating  and  Valves,  Chilled  Stamp  Heads, 
Wrought  Lifters  and  Tongues,  Steam  whim  Cipstvns  or  Cages.  M  ichine,  Horse 
and  Winze  Kibbles,  Whim  Shelves,  Shelve  Blocks,  Hand-power  Hoisting  Win- 
ches, Jack  Screws,  Wrought  Iron  Bucket  Joints,  Bolts  and  Nuts,  Picks,  Mal- 
lets, Sledge*,  and  all  kinds  of  Cast  and  wrought  Iron  work  for  Mining  purposes. 
All  kinds  of 

STAMPING  and  MINING  MACHINERY 

Furnished  at  a  short  notice,  together  with  Plans  for  Buildings  and  Wash 
Floors.  All  work  made  of  best  materials,  and  by  mechanics  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  mining  work  in  all  its  details.  Proprietor  ar.d  Manufacturer  of  the 

Superior  Steam  Pumps, 

Horizontal  and  vertical,  and  the  celebrated 

Turner  Improved  Steam  Valve, 

which  for  economy  of  steam  and  control  of  engine  is  not  equaled  by  any  slide 
valve  in  use.  Prices  and  descriptions  given  on  application 


Michigan  Iron  Foundry,  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  Lake  Supe- 
rior Iron   Works,  Hancock,  (P.  0.  Houghton,}  Mich. 

THE  L/KE  SUPERIOR  POWDER  CO., 

MARQUETTE,    -    -     MICHIGAN, 

Manufacture  and  Sell 

MINING  AND  BLASTING  POWDER 

Of  E^ery  Descriptioa. 
JAY  C.  MORSE,  Pres't.    C.  H.  CALL,  Sec'y  and  Treas'r.    J.  G.  REYNOLDS,  Sup't. 


FMETBMAN  &  BROTHER,  Proprietors. 


SADDLE  HORSES  TO  LET  ^  REASONABLE  RATES. 


SPartles      STxpplLecL      -witla.      Cc3a.-sre3ra,zi.ces      a.33.d. 
Cria.id.es    to    tDa.e 

NEARLY  OPPOSITE  THE  FIRST 
NATIONAL  BANK, 


Cor.  Washington  and  Front  streets, 

MAKQUETTE,  L.  S.,  MICH. 

Enlarged    and   Newly    Renovated. 
Beautifully  Located, 

Overlooking  the  Bay  and  Lake  and  within  easy  access  of  Steamboat  Landings  and 

Bailroad  Depot. 

ARRANGED  AND  CONDUCTED 

To  meet  the  requirements  and  tastes  of  all,  the  tourist,  the  invalid  and  the  business 

man. 

JOHN  F.  W.  THOMAS,  Prop'r. 


Incorporated  under  the  Laws  of  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Capital  and  Surplus,      -     -      -      $165,250.00 


MARQUETTE,  MICH. 
Transacts  a  General  Banking  and  Exchange  Business. 

Officers-AMBROSE  CAMPBELL,  Pres't ;  EDWARD  BREITUNG,  Vioe  Prea't: 
J.  M.  WILKINSON,  Cashier ;  FRED  M.  STEELE,  Ass't  Cashier. 

Directors -AMBROSE  CAMPBELL,   J.  R.  CASE,    J.  A.  TREAT,  EDWARD 
BREITUNG,  J.  M.  WILKINSON,  T.  B.  BROOKS,  S.  ADAMS. 

A.  MATHEWS.  J.  M.  LONGYEAR 

MATHEWS  &  LONGYEAR, 

LAND,  TAX  AND  EXPLORING  AGENCY., 

Marquette,  L.  S.,  Mich. 

Lands  sold,  taxes  paid,  titles  examined,  defective  titles  adjusted,  lands  ex- 
amined, timber  carefully  estimated  and  mineral  indications  reported,  lands 
located  at  State  and  Government  offices.  fl^^Mineral  Explorations  a  spec- 
ialty.^jgj]  Mineral,  Pine  and  Hardwood  lands,  and  Minutes  for  sale.  Mining 
Stocks  bought  and  sold  on  commission.  Complete  and  accurate  Maps  of  the 
entire  Iron  River  Silver  District,  showing  the  locations  of  the  various  Silver 
Mining  Companies,  dip  and  strike  of  veins  as  far  as  known,  and  containing 
much  other  valuable  information.  Price  50  cents  per  copy.  Properties  placed 
in  the  English  market  for  sale. 

Refer  to  Gov.  John  J.  Bagley,  Hon.  Geo.  Jerome,  C.  B.  Hebbard,  Noble  & 
Brady,  Detroit ;  S.  F.  Seager,  S.  L.  Smith,  E.  Longyear,  Cashier  2nd  Nat.  Bank, 
Turner,  Smith  &  Co.,  Geo.  E.  Ranney,  Sec'y  State  Ins.  Co.,  W.  H.  Chapmanr 
Pres't  State  Ins.  Co.,  Lansing;  R.  K.  Havley  &  Co.,  Baliimore,  Md.  ;  J.  M. 
Wilkinson,  Receiver  Gov.  Land  Office,  Ambrose  Campbell,  Register  Gov.  Land 
Office,  H.  C.  Thurber,  Geo.  P.  Cuuimings,  C.  E.,  Francis  M.  Moore,  Co.  Clerk, 
J.  R.  Case,  Marquette  ;  Hon.  Edward  Breitung,  Negaunee ;  Smith  &  Co., 
L'Anse  ;  Smith  &  Harris,  Houghton  ;  C.  E.  Wright,  I.  E.  &  M.  E.,  Marquette  ; 
Jos  R.  Bennet,  U.  S.  Marshal,  E.  Di&t.,  Adrian  ;  Prof.  R.  Pumpelly,  Newburghr 
N.  Y. 

MATHEWS  &  tONGYEAR,  Gen'l  Real  Estate  Agents. 


C.    M.   BOSS, 


Iron  City,  L.  S.,  Mich. 

Attention  paid  to  examination  of  Lands  for  Mineral  or  Timber.  References 
given. 


STOIRIB 


Free    Museum,    News    Depot    and    Variety 
Store.    Silver,  Copper  and  Iron  Specimens, 


Amethysts,  Agates,  Greenstones,  (Chlorastrolytes,) 

Bark  Work,  Sweet  Grass  Baskets,  Beadwork, 

Moccasins,  Bows    and   Arrows,  Snow  Shoes,   etc.     Green- 

stone Jewelry  a  specialty.     Lake  Superior  Yiews. 

Nearly  Opposite  the  Post  Office,  MAR  QUJETTE,  L,.  S.,  MICH 


B.  nini  &  co 


>u 


Itfl 


ron  mn, 


STEEL  MO  IROI  RAILS, 

93  Dearborn  St.,  CHICAGO. 

Sole  Agents  for 

Joliet    Iron    and    Steel   Co., 
National  Iron  Co., 

De  Pere,  Wis., 

Menominee   Iron    Co., 

Menominee,    Mich., 

Green    Bay    Iron    Co., 

Green  Bay,  Wis. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 


Return  to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


2dj 


JU*  17  196Q 


FEB  1  2  1992 


LD  21-100rn-ll,'49(B7146sl6)476 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


M85848 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


K&t 

3j&    m®  .,••>.-::-.;;'.;:,'•• 

•^$;^^ 


